Dark, with a muscular core of blackberry, black currant and black Mission fig flavors that rumble through, laced with charcoal, cast iron and licorice root notes. Features a broad swath of tobacco and savoriness on the finish, lending cut and drive. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Best from 2024 through 2038. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 7,500 cases made, 500 cases imported.

Looking at the red, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape is brilliant and should be snatched up by readers. Offering a thrilling nose of ripe strawberries, black raspberries, garrigue, and flowers, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ripe, silky tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. It's going to drink fabulously well over the coming 10-15 years. The blend is 57% Grenache, 24% Syrah, and 19% Mourvèdre, brought up in a mix of foudre, old barrels, and concrete tanks.

This is a plump, hedonistic blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre that pulsates with luscious strawberry, raspberry and fig flavors. It’s a sultry, supple sip marked with just a hint of leather and edged by fine, velveteen tannins. While it welcomes with open arms already, it should drink beautifully through 2030.

Glistening ruby-red. Expansive, oak-spiced black and blue fruit and candied lavender aromas show sharp delineation, and a hint of garrigue builds with air. Stains the palate with sappy cassis, boysenberry and spicecake flavors that smoothly blend richness and energy. Fine-grained tannins sneak in stealthily on an impressively long, penetrating finish that echoes the vanilla and floral notes.