2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Amiral G

The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Amiral G. is based all on Grenache and comes from a single plot of very old Grenache vines (all rolled stone soils) that was destemmed and brought up in demi-muids. Just screaming "Grenache!" at the top of its lungs with its sweet bouquet of black raspberries, candied violets, baking spices, and crushed rock-like minerality, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness and density, a weightless texture, no hard edges, and awesome length. It's a sensational, borderline perfect wine that has everything you want from a bottle of wine. Give it a year or three, and it's going to cruise for 15+. Located just across the hill from Rayas, Chateau de Vaudieu continues to make a ripe, sexy, quasi-modern style of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. They release a number of cuvées, most of which are small parcel releases intended to highlight a specific terroir. These are powerful, rich wines that never lose their sense of balance and purity.

This exemplary estate, owned by Laurent Brechet, has been on a roll. The 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Amiral G, 100% Grenache aged in demi-muids, is a full-bodied, lush wine jammed with complex notions of tree bark, cola, allspice, anise and plummy fruit. At 15.4% alcohol, there's plenty of power, but the wine never seems warm or heavy, instead feeling rich and velvety on the palate and ending long and spicy. With just 5,000 bottles produced, it may be tough to find, but it will be worth the search.

Vivid ruby-red. Highly perfumed red berry liqueur, sandalwood and Asian spice aromas show outstanding clarity and pick up a sexy floral nuance with air. Silky, open-knit and juicy on the palate, offering intense, deeply concentrated raspberry preserve, cherry cola and floral pastille flavors and an exotic suggestion of five-spice powder. The floral quality repeats emphatically on a smooth, expansive, wonderfully persistent finish that shows just hint of fine-grained tannins. This wine exudes sex appeal and should be delicious soon after release, but it also has the depth and balance to carry it for years to come.