Vivid ruby. An exotically perfumed bouquet displays candied red fruits, peppery spices and licorice with a suave floral overtone. Pliant and sweet on the palate, offering black raspberry and cherry flavors and a spicy jolt of white pepper. Smoke and mineral nuances come up on the impressively long, penetrating finish, which features silky tannins and a repeating red fruit note. (JR)

Plenty of ripe red fruits with brambly herbs and some darker berry notes. The palate has fleshy presence. Deep-set tannins hold impressive length.

Leading off the 2015s, the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a charming, elegant blend of 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 12% Mourvèdre and the rest Cinsault. All from the les Brusquières lieu-dit in the northern part of the appellation and aged in equal parts concrete tanks and old barrels, it offers lots of strawberries and floral aromatics, medium-bodied richness, plenty of mid-palate depth and a good finish, with surprising length.