2016 Orin Swift Pharaon

The tiny production 2016 Côtes Catalanes Pharaon is a selection of older vines and is 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah aged in 50% new barrels. It’s another rich, powerful wine that does everything right, giving up sensational notes of black currants, cassis, chocolate, and graphite, with its oak smothered by its wealth of fruit. Full-bodied, concentrated, and layered, it has ripe, present tannins, no hard edges, and beautiful purity of fruit. It will compete with the best of the Southern Rhône and drink well for a decade or more.