Alain Jaume, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine Grand Veneur Vieilles Vignes 2016

The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes is up with the crème de la crème of the vintage and in the same league as the perfect 2010. Awesome notes of blackberries, crème de cassis, charred meats, licorice, and violets all soar from the glass. It's powerful, opulent, and structured, with building tannin, a huge mid-palate, and a blockbuster finish, yet it never loses its sense of purity and elegance. It's an incredible achievement from this estate. The blend is 45% Grenache, 45% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah, all aged in 55% new French oak.

Showing a bit of development, Grand Veneur's 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes remains my benchmark vintage for this cuvée. The nose offers complex notes of mocha, black olives, red berries and hints of garrigue, while the full-bodied palate is rich, velvety and inviting. If one had to quibble, there's perhaps a touch of warmth showing on the finish, but this is a terrific wine by any measure and one that should drink well for at least another decade.

A remarkable combination of freshness, concentration and lightness of touch. Very long, with vivid aromatics and lovely balance. It's hard to fault really, but is painfully young at this stage. The tannins are grippy but fully ripe, the acidity is juicy and precise, and the fruit is concentrated. Impressive.

Lurid violet. A highly complex bouquet evokes ripe red and blue fruits, incense, vanilla and exotic spices, and a floral accent builds steadily as the wine opens up. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering deeply concentrated black raspberry, boysenberry, cola and spicecake flavors that are energized and given spine by a core of juicy acidity. Shows outstanding clarity and fruity thrust on a long, sweet finish framed by smooth tannins.