Châteauneuf-du-Pape

From Magnum.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is dusty with black cherries and slight licorice.  Quite tight.  On the palate, the cherries continue, but this is really tight right now.  Seems monolithic.  Not sure where this goes from here, but hopefully, it starts to open up in the next couple of years.  Doesn't seem to really have great depth but who knows.  Perhaps some upside potential.  For now, however, it is very good and enjoyable.  One of those wines where expectations balance against reality.  

Upon first tasting, this wine wasn't giving up a thing.  Really tight.  But after an hour or two of air and multiple other pours being taken, this finally started to open up and show something.  That said, drink this quick or be prepared to wait a while before revisiting as if not shut down, it is getting there quickly.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has black cherries with rocks and dust.  With air a bit of a floral note.  On the palate, this is almost jammy but not quite with black cherry fruit.  A nice minerality underneath.  It is delicious and only going to get better from here.  It ne

This is really in a nice place right now.  Mature but enough fresh fruit to keep it edgy.  Ruby in color, purple at the core.  The nose has opened up on this showing black cherries, cherries, and plums along with spice and slight dried floral notes.  On the palate, there is plenty of vibrant black cherry fruit.  Deep with layers that open up quickly.  Good acidity.  Nice balance.  No hurry but I think a few more years and it starts moving the other direction.  Works well with a wide variety of foods.  A great example of why cellaring top wines in ripe vintages might be a good strategy.  

Consumed from a Magnum.  Purple in color, ruby swirls.  The nose is clean with black cherries and spice.  On the palate, this has a soft texture.  Black cherry fruit.  Slight, slight bitterness to it.  It seems advanced considering the format and the age, but that's fine.  Drinking well now.  While it has some complexity it is broader rather than deep.  This is very good for the vintage and should be good for the next ten years.  Not sure if there is any upside though.  

This is always one of the best Cotes du Rhone and in good vintages it is worth stocking up on.  It cellars well for five  to ten years.  Drinking great right now.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose is very nice with black cherries, violets, spice and slight cedar.  On the palate, juicy black cherries, spice and gravel notes.  Not quite layered but more of a mosaic.  Good acidity.  Food friendly.  This retails for close to $20 which makes it a great value.  Better than a lot of Chateauneuf du Papes!

This was way above my expectations for a not so great vintage and their regular cuvee (although they didn't make a Felix in 2014).  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is a bit musty but clears to show raspberries, slight strawberries, a bit of pine and spice.  On the palate, this has a lovely slick-ish texture that makes it imminently drinkable.  Bright acidity.  Nice finish.  Drinking quite well right now, this is not going to make old bones.  

This wine is in the beginnings of its prime drinking window IMO.  It should be good for at least another decade.  Purple in color.  The nose is great with black cherries, black raspberries, cherries, raw meat, and floral notes.  On the palate, this has a great almost soft texture.  Slight tannins.  Layers of black raspberries, black cherries, licorice and earth.  This is a very clean wine.  Nice acidity especially for the vintage.  Long finish.  This kept improving all night.  It worked well my pasta dish after being open for a few hours.