2016 is a stellar year in Chateauneuf du Pape and the southern Rhone Valley. While this wine has years left in it, it was wonderful to drink now. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is great. Clean with black cherries, dust, spice and slight lavender notes. On the palate, this has a wonderful texture. Juicy black cherry fruit. An underlying minerality. Lots of depth. Good finish. It is a big wine at the moment, but will no doubt mellow and gain in complexity as it loses some of that youthful fruit. This easily has a decade and more left to it, but it really is worth drinking one young. It will go well with stews and roasted meats and/or veggies. It will likely improve by a point or two over the next few years.
Grade:
A
Score:
96
Vintage:
2016
Current Price:
$65.00USD
