Floral develop in the first two years of aging. Afterwards, they evolve towards fruit aromas like apricot with a touch of honey. .

The 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape is a seductive, red fruited blend of 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 8% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault (plus bits of Counoise and Muscardin) that’s already dangerously drinkable. Garrigue scents accent raspberry fruit in this full-bodied but silky wine that ends on crisp notes of orange zest.

   

Rich and rounded, this wine has a damp woodland notes and fruits flavors. It is very well-balanced and present an impressive length.

It does boast attractive notes of red fruits on the nose—strawberries and raspberries come to mind—but also some minty, stemmy notes. It’s full-bodied but also a bit herbal and astringent on the palate, with a drying finish and a rather uncertain future.

An equal-parts blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, half of the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee des Fines Roches aged in demi-muids, the other half in new barriques. Yet the oak is well integrated into the wine, adding sexy notes of vanilla and baking spices to the ripe cherry fruit

   

Distinctive, with a streak of cedar piercing the core of blood orange, bitter plum and cherry fruit before giving way to sanguine and incense notes on the finish. Fresh acidity allows everything to play out on the finish.