2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Colombis Rouge Famille Isabel Ferrando (St. Prefert)

100% Grenache. Cask sample. Purified red fruit on the nose, attractive chewiness and good concentration of flavour giving balance on the palate. Lovely chocolate notes on the finish. Complete, rounded, and not overcooked. (RH) 15% Drink 2018-2034.

A spitting image of the heavenly 2007, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Colombis is a huge, opulent Grenache that delivers everything you could want from this variety. Layers of kirsch liqueur, garrigue, licorice, and herbes de Provence just cascade over the palate. This literal bomb of a wine is full-bodied, concentrated, and layered, yet like all truly great wines, it remains pure, balanced and graceful, with no sense of heaviness. It will most likely merit a triple-digit score in another 2-3 years and will keep for another 10-15 years, but why wait?

A spitting image of the heavenly 2007, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Colombis is a huge, opulent Grenache that delivers everything you could want from this variety. Layers of kirsch liqueur, garrigue, licorice, and herbes de Provence just cascade over the palate. This literal bomb of a wine is full-bodied, concentrated, and layered, yet like all truly great wines, it remains pure, balanced and graceful, with no sense of heaviness. It will most likely merit a triple-digit score in another 2-3 years and will keep for another 10-15 years, but why wait?

The 100% Grenache 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Colombis is sourced from three different lieux-dits, each of which has sandy soils. In addition, the vines are all at least 60 years old. Matured in demi-muids, this beautiful wine features enthralling aromas of crushed stone, rose petals and ripe raspberries. Full-bodied and concentrated, the texture comes across as something weightless yet between silk and velvet, laced with exotic spices and lingering for minutes on the finish. It's another stunning example of Grenache from sand terroirs, and it's actually underpriced relative to its quality. Grab it while you can! 2019 - 2035.

Deep ruby in color, the wine is concentrated, lush, round and peppery fresh. There is a definition to each layer of fruit that varies from black raspberry to kirsch. Opulent, rich and fresh, this is pure velvet in the mouth. The finish, with its purity of fruit seriously goes on and on. Complete decadence is the best way to describe this must have wine. The wine is made from 100% old vine Grenache. For a wine of this quality, it is one of the steals of the vintage!

Limpid ruby. Heady, spice-accented aromas of ripe red berries, incense and potpourri are complemented by a smoky mineral element that gains power as the wine opens up. Sweet, palate-staining raspberry liqueur, spicecake and floral pastille flavors reveal hints of cola and white pepper. Conveys a suave blend of richness and energy and finishes with outstanding clarity, harmonious tannins and serious red-fruit-driven persistence. I greatly underestimated this beautiful wine from barrel.

This is warm and very alluring, featuring steeped plum, blackberry and fig fruit flavors forming the core, underscored with ganache, roasted alder and smoldering tobacco notes. The alder edge pierces the finish, adding length and drive, while mouthwatering acidity ripples all around. Best from 2020 through 2035.-J.M.