2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge Guigal

A fresh, dark-cherry and stone nose with attractive purity of fruit here. The palate has a very succulent, quite grainy and deeply ripe feel with a super rich, concentrated and bold serving of ripe dark plums and blackberries. Tar to close. Impressive. Drink or hold.

Bright violet. Deeply perfumed aromas of ripe red and dark berries and garrigue slowly pick up spice and woodsmoke elements as the wine stretches out. Juicy and seamless in the mouth, offering alluringly sweet black raspberry, cherry preserve, spicecake and lavender flavors that slowly tighten up on the back half. The floral and spice notes carry strongly through an impressively long, penetrating finish that's given shape and gentle grip by smooth, polished tannins.

Baking spices, cola and raspberry notes all appear on the nose of the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape. It's full-bodied and velvety, folding in hints of French roast and dark chocolate on the lingering finish. It should drink well for a decade or more.

Lots of lavender, garrigue, peppery herbs, and rocking dark fruits emerge from the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape. With medium to full body, ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish, it's unquestionably an outstanding wine. It's already hard to resist yet will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and cruise for a decade.