This wine surges with ripe, red Grenache fruit, with notes of Provençal herbs, sage, black pepper and forest floor adding complexity and nuance. Thanks to its bounteous Grenache fruit and smooth, pliable tannins, this wine is strikingly plush and immediately enjoyable, particularly for a Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Drink now and over the coming decade.
Almost all Grenache (there’s 1% Mourvèdre) that was not destemmed and was brought up all in concrete, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape offers an old school nose of smoked red and black fruits, sappy garrigue, black pepper, and gamey nuances. The stems are front and center yet are balanced beautifully by pure fruit, and the wine is medium to full-bodied and balanced, with a bright spine of acidity, and a great finish. It’s going to be even better with 2-3 years of bottle age and cruise for a decade. Lovers of stemmy, old school, yet clean and impeccably made Châteauneuf will love this.