Domaine de Marcoux, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Vieilles Vignes 2012

There are roughly 2,800 bottles of the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes to go around. Always a blend of 100% Grenache from three terroirs -- Charbonnière, Esquierons and Galimardes -- it is completely destemmed and aged all in stainless steel there wasn't enough to fill a larger barrel). The wine possesses a perfumed, complex profile of black raspberry and blackberry-like fruit, spring flowers, licorice and damp herbs. This is followed by a full-bodied, voluptuously textured wine that has layers of sweet fruit, fine tannin and terrific length. It lacks the sheer depth and richness that's found in top vintages of this cuvée 2006, 2007, 2010, among others), but should still have 10-15 years of longevity, and deliver loads of pleasure for all of it.