Domaine de la Janasse, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Vieilles Vignes 2017

The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes is another killer effort from this estate. Coming from the La Janasse and La Crau lieux-dits and brought up in foudre, its deep purple color is followed by blockbuster notes of crème de cassis, blackberries, chocolate, graphite, and earthy, rocky, mineral-like nuances. It's deep and full-bodied, with a ripe, powerful yet balanced style and a great finish. A classic example of this cuvée. it's going to benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for two decades or more.

The 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Vieilles Vignes derives from parcels planted on classic clay and galets roulés soils. It's 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah and 5% other varieties. Tight, intense, even clenched, it's in need of several years' cellaring before it becomes truly enjoyable to drink. For now, those gorgeous black cherries are restrained behind a firm wall of tannins. Full-bodied and rich, this is ripe, it just requires patience.

Saturated ruby. Displays intensely perfumed, spice-accented black and blue fruit, floral oil and candied licorice qualities on the nose. Offers powerful cherry liqueur, black raspberry, fruitcake and exotic spice flavors that tighten up through the back half. There's surprising energy here given the wine's volume. Velvety tannins frame a strikingly long, spicy finish that strongly echoes the cherry and floral notes.

Fermented in concrete and matured for 12 months in foudre and demi-muid, this wine has an inky colour with gentle notes of clove and nutmeg oak over mulled damson fruit. It's not as full or heavy as expected, but is still powerful and quite extracted. The fine tannins are generous and grippy. Remarkably well balanced for its size.

There’s less grenache here in 2017 (60%); the balance is made up of syrah and mourvedre, all from 80 to 100 years of age. The richness and depth here is really impressive, as is the freshness of ripe berries and a dark and quite dense, plum and black-cherry burst at the finish. The palate has a very supple, succulent and juicy feel. Some firmness to the tannins and good drive with a silky edge. Try from 2024.