Châteauneuf-du-Pape

This is a blend of 70% old Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, 5% other allowed grapes.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  It was interesting to drink this side by side with the Gigondas.  The CdP is a much bigger and more complex wine (and more expensive).  The nose has black cherries, cherries, spice, smoke and black pepper.  Medium to full bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Open and drinking well but with depth and complexity.  Flavors of black cherries, plums and spice with light tannins.  This is drinking well on its own and will work well wi

This wine was bought on release and is exactly where it should be at age 21.  Deep ruby in color with just a bit of browning at the edges.  Clear and bright.  The wine initially has some bottle funk but that blows of to reveal a classic CdP nose.  Cherries, spice, slight barnyard, a bit of dried cherries and roasted herbs.  Medium to full bodied.  Great energy and balance.  on the palate, this is complex and layered.  Cherries, fresh and dried, earthiness and char.  Nice balance.  Good finish.  This is fully mature and probably needs to be drunk soon as it starts to fade.  Still, another fi

One of the top producers in Chateaneuf and one with out a luxury cuvee.  This is a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah.  Served pop and pour, this took about 30 minutes to really open and then drank beautifully.  We shared the bottle with friends while listening to Latin jazz at an outdoor café.

Ruby in color with a touch of browning, clear and bright.  The nose is classic with cherries, slight barnyard and spice.  The tannins seem resolved and this is at peak.  Layers of fruit and tertiary notes.  Complex.  Cherries, earthy dried fruit and flowers.  Good acidity.  Slight barnyard on the palate.  Good finish.  This is exactly what this wine should be at this point.  If you live that, you will love this.  Better with food such as a stew or vegetarian chili.  Drink over the next five years.  

This is a new project of the Maurel brothers of Clos St.

This is 100% Grenache from vines that are over 100 years old.  Incredible wine with only 400 Magnums being released.  Purple in color, slight ruby line at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, slight raspberries, minerals, slight anise and floral notes.  Full bodied.  Incredible texture.  Its a big wine but with so much energy and so light on its feet.  On the palate, this is complex and concentrated.  As it unwinds on the palate, there are black raspberries, lots of minerality, some anise and spice.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This is drinking quite well now but just s

Wow.  Incredible wine.  Served from Magnum, this is still young but with some air was singing.  100% Grenache.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, spices, floral qualities but also a bit or roasted meats and herbs.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is concentrated, intense and delicious.  Cassis, lavender, slight black cherry with underlying char and minerality.  Voluptuous texture.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and went very well with Mushroom Agnolotti.  Still young, especially from Magnum, this will make gr

This is one of my favorite Chateauneuf's although not always easy to find and not inexpensive.  It is 100% Grenache from century old vines.  While this is still quite young, it is delicious and intense.  Deep garnet in color, opaque and bright.  The nose opens in the glass to show black raspberries, black cherries, spices and subtle floral notes.  Full bodied with a wonderful texture.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black raspberries with underlying spice and minerality.  Clean.  Great balance.  Long finish.  While no doubt not giving up everything, it is so delicious.  It went wonderfully

Charvin always makes a more elegant styled Chateauneuf with a larger amount of Grenache.  At age 15, this is drinking quite well.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, spices, slight dried floral notes and a bit of clean earthiness.  Medium bodied.  Bright acidity.  On the palate, cherries and black cherries with underlying spice, slight char and minerality.  Depth and layers of complexity.  Delicious.  Great on its own, this will excel with the right food such as beef or bean stew.  Fully mature, drink over the next ten years.  

This is in a great place right now (as seem to be many of the top 2005 CdP's).  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight black raspberries, char, black pepper, nutmeg and black pepper.  With air some dried flowers and roasted meats.  Full bodied.  Complex and layered.  This is a big, "masculine" styled type of CdP.  On the palate, black cherries, with layers of forest floor, spice and earth.  Lively acidity.  Good balance.  Long finish.  This bottle is at peak but should have another five to seven years at this level.  Great on its own, it will be even