2019 Chateauneuf du Pape

Checking in as a blend of 65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, and the rest a handful of varieties, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape was brought up in a mix of foudre and older barrels. This deep ruby/purple-hued effort has a pure, vibrant, incredibly seamless, medium to full-bodied style that carries classic notes of black raspberry and black cherry fruits as well as peppery herbs, violets, spring flowers, and sous bois. This straight-up gorgeous, seamless, ultra-fine 2019 should be snatched up by readers. It has a rare mix of elegance, purity, and power, and it’s going to have two decades of prime drinking. Readers looking for a more Burgundian styled, elegant, yet still concentrated and classic Châteauneuf du Pape should jump on these latest releases from Domaine de Beaurenard, which are made by the Coulon family. While I found the wines to be slightly narrow and moderately concentrated in the past, they appear to be back on track, making richly textured, concentrated, yet still incredibly elegant wines today, and you can’t go wrong with either of these new vintages. Their 2019 Cuvée Boisrenard might just match the 2016 and 2001 (and don’t miss the 2017), which remain the benchmark vintages for this estate in my mind. In addition to their great reds, the estate fashions an incredibly impressive, ageworthy set of whites.

Shimmering ruby. Expressive, mineral-accented red berry and cherry aromas are complemented by suggestions of garrigue and pungent flowers. Energetic and focused on the palate, offering sappy black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that become deeper and sweeter as the wine unfolds. Juicy and sharply focused, displaying strong, spicy lift on the long penetrating finish, which features harmonious tannins and repeating florality.