2020 Chateauneuf du Pape

Excellent depth of black fruits, but the Mediterranean herb aromas dominate the fruit. Then the concentrated and very structured palate sweeps you away in a gentle and sensual way. Wonderful interplay of ripeness and expertly crafted fine tannins through the long, elegant finish. A cuvee 75% grenache, 10% syrah, 10% mourvedre and 5% cinsault that were co-fermented, then matured in foudre. Drink or hold.

Plums, flowers, cherries, spice and kirsch shine in the nose and it gets even better as you dig in to all the layers of supple-textured, creamy, ripe, plus, ripe, sweet, pure fruits on the palate and in the finish. The wine blends mostly old vine Grenache with Mourvedre, Syrah and Cinsault. Drink from 2023-2036.

The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape is another winner from this team, and readers can’t go wrong here. Based on 75% Grenache, 10% each of Syrah and Mourvedre, with the balance Cinsault, it was partially destemmed and brought up all in foudre. This beauty just about jumps out of the glass with its Provençal aromatics of ripe cherries, ground pepper, saddle leather, garrigue, and spice. These carry to a medium to full-bodied wine that has the vintage’s charming, pure character front and center, yet still brings good mid-palate density and ripe tannins. Buy a case, count yourself lucky, and enjoy bottles any time over the coming 10-15 years.