Easily the most rich and concentrated, the 2011 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes might just be the wine of the vintage. A blend of 85% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and the balance a mix of varieties, aged 25% in barrel (40% of which are new), it offers up aromas of blackberry liqueur, roasted meats, graphite, licorice, and wet stone-like minerality. Full-bodied, lavishly textured, fresh, and surprisingly structured, with big, mouth coating tannin and good acidity, it will be one of the few 2011s to require bottle age, as well as one of the longer-lived wines in the vintage.

Dark fruit liqueur, star anise, cinnamon and licorice aromas are sharpened by a lively mineral quality and a touch of white pepper. Sappy, sweet and incisive, with a suave blend of power and vivacity to its blackcurrant and mulberry flavors. Juicy acidity gives focus to the finish, which features velvety tannins, a touch of smokiness and outstanding energy. (JR)

Deeply spicy aromas, liquorice and griotte cherry. It's a full-bodied wine, but relatively light for a Janasse Vieilles Vignes, with really marked acidity that's not terribly well integrated. Deep bramble jelly notes on the palate. The tannins are still a little rough, and the wine feels a little disjointed currently, so I would age this for a few more years before opening. It's certainly concentrated enough and has good freshness, if not great finesse. The 2011 vintage had a very hot August with mildew at the end of the season. The mistral after the rains in late August concentrated the berries, and they picked relatively early, with the last grapes brought in towards the end of September. The blend also contains some Clairette Rose, Cinsault and Counoise. Still remarkably dark in the glass. (MW)