Dark and winey, with waves of ganache, steeped plum, blackberry reduction and melted black licorice rolling through. The finish is scored with warm earth and smoldering tobacco notes, showing ample grip for the cellar. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Counoise, Muscardin, Vaccarèse and Cinsault. Best from 2023 through 2036. 18,300 cases made, 1,500 cases imported.

Deep, shimmering ruby. Powerful red and dark berry scents are complemented by exotic spice, garrigue and floral nuances. Sappy and densely packed, offering juicy raspberry, cherry preserve, licorice and fruitcake flavors underscored by a vein of juicy acidity. Gently chewy tannins build steadily on an impressively long, penetrating finish that leaves behind lavender and juicy cherry notes.

The base wine, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape has a healthy ruby/purple color to go with its classic Southern Rhône notes of ripe red and black fruits, lots of earthy garrigue, some ground pepper, and a touch of minerality. All this carries over to the palate, where the wine is medium to full-bodied and beautifully balanced, with a great mid-palate and sweet tannins. It certainly shows the upfront, charming style of the vintage, but I love its mid-palate, it's beautifully balanced, and is just a seriously classy wine from this estate, which deserves more recognition today. Enjoy bottles any time over the coming 15 years or more.

A gentle mélange of ripe cherries, dusty earth and dried spices mingle on the nose of the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape. A blend of approximately 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 8.5% Mourvèdre and 1.5% other permitted varieties, it's full-bodied, showing some silky tannins on the cocoa-tinged finish.