The 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Report.
I taste a lot of wine. Normally, when looking at 50-100 wines in a morning, you find long patches of average, or worse, boring wine.
It’s the long, dull patches of uninteresting that make wine tasting so much work. Why am I starting my 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape report with that in mind?
Because it was effortless to taste over 200 wines from the 2016 Chateaunuef du Pape appellation. During the tasting, I kept wondering if I was losing my mind, because wine after wine was so good!
Each wine was exciting to see, swirl, smell, feel and taste. Wines that were often lackluster with good. Wines that were good were now very strong. And wines that were often stellar were reference points this year! My scores might look generous. But these wines deserve it!
2016 Chateauneuf du Pape is the single most, consistent vintage for any appellation I have ever tasted! Almost every wine I tasted showed promise, offering consistently, complex aromatics, silky tannins, freshness, balance and at the top end, you find a beautiful purity of fruit, with finishes that do not want to quit.
How did all this happen? It is important to understand that 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape is the product of very warm days, and good drops in temperature during the night, giving the wines freshness, ripe, soft tannins and concentration.
The 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape growing season started off well. The winter is relatively mild. During the spring, much of what growers experienced was dry and cool. The last showers took place late in May.
From there, the summer was warm, sunny and mostly dry with cool nights. By the time September rolled around, the vineyards were nourished with precipitation at exactly the right moment, giving the vines a push, to achieve perfect, phenolic ripeness.
The harvest for some growers began in the middle of September. From there depending on the terroir, vine age and desires of the vignerions, some domaines did not conclude picking until October.
2016 Chateauneuf du Pape and in fact, the entire Southern Rhone Valley is fabulous for both red and white wines. But the vintage rocks for the red wines. In fact, several estates produced the best wines in the history of the property!
Across the board, the color shows good depth. The wines are concentrated, long, complex and aromatic. At their best, the wines display an elegant silky texture with incredible finesse. The wines offer a strong purity of fruit that really shines this year.
The wines are the product of a sunny vintage, but there is ample freshness and balance. These wines are so good, they are already a delight to taste today!
So we are clear, in case my effusive praise in my tasting notes, coupled with the highest scores I have ever given to Chateauneuf in the the past, do not convey how exciting these wines are, if you love the wines from the Southern Rhone Valley, run, do not walk and grab a few of these beauties for your cellar!
I’d like to thank all the producers that allowed me to taste their wines this year. Please note that should you wish to post a review to your Facebook page, it takes only 2 clicks. Just click on the Facebook logo at the end of your note, on the right side of the page. To do this, just go to the page using either the link in the tasting note in this post, or use the article search function.
The following 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape wines were tasted in non-blind conditions during my recent visit to Chateauneuf.
2016 3 Cellier Chateauneuf-du-Pape Alchimie – Medium bodied, forward, fruity and already in the right place to taste, the sweetness in the red fruits, concentration and soft textures make this perfect for vivacious, youthful drinking. The wine is made using 60% Grenache and various other, assorted grape varieties. 94 Pts
2016 3 Cellier Chateauneuf-du-Pape Eternelle – This is elegant, soft, silky, floral and fresh. The dark red fruits are ripe, juicy and sweet. There is length, complexity and a polish to the tannins you can feel in the luscious, dark cherry finish. The wine is produced using 100% old vine Grenache. 96 Pts
2016 3 Cellier Chateauneuf-du-Pape Marceau – Juicy dark, red berries leaf, spice, pepper and herbal notes combine to produce a forward, earthy, garrigue tinged, peppery, full, rich wine. The wine is made from 50% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache and other assorted grape varieties. 93 Pts
2016 3 Cellier Chateauneuf-du-Pape Privilege – Powerful, smoky, stony and concentrated, the wine is loaded with dark fruits, fleshy textures, black pepper and freshness. On the back end, there is licorice, spice and a serious depth of flavor with dark cherries and kirsch that does not quit. The wine should age quite well. The wine is made from a blend of 60% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre. 95 Pts
2016 Alain Jaume Vieux Terron – Medium bodied, fresh, sweet and loaded with kirsch, strawberry and peppery freshness, you should be able to enjoy this right out of the gate. The wine really stays with you in the luscious, spicy, licorice and herb tinged finish. The wine was produced using 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. 94 Pts
2016 Albin Jacumin â Aimé – Silky, fresh, and sweet, with freshness, complexity and early drinking charming, this sensuously textured winner is going to be great, right out of the box. The licorice, pepper and spice bring all the complexities needed to sweet ripe, soft fruits in the finish. The Grenache dominated blend includes most of the allowable grapes varieties. 90 Pts
2016 Albin Jacumin La Begude Des Papes – Medium bodied, elegant, polished, refined, soft and sweet the fruit is ripe, fresh and spicy. The herbs and fruit make a great combo that stands out in the finish. The wine was made from blending 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 12% Mourvedre and 3% Cinsault. 91 Pts
2016 Andre Mathieu Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Sweet red fruits pop from the get go. The wine is soft, fresh polished and fruity, with freshness and ripe, jammy black raspberries in the finish. While the blend here is mostly Grenache, you also find various percentage of all the allowable,13 different grape varietals. 91 Pts
2016 Andre Mathieu Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vin di Felibre – Medium/full bodied, soft and fresh with a strong lean to the garrigue and olive side. There is freshness and energy to the soft, peppery, dark red fruits in the finish. The wine was made by blending 80% Mourvedre, 10% Grenache, 5% Syrah and 5% comes from various, allowed grape varieties. 93 Pts
2016 Andre Mathieu La Centenaire – Spicy fruits, silky tannins, elegant stylings and purity are the hallmarks of this wine. The sweet, red, peppery fruits and licorice are present from start to finish, which by the way is loaded with fennel and peppery, black raspberries and kirsch. The wine has been blended with 80% old vine Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 5% Syrah and the remaining 5% comes from other AOC allowed grape varieties. 95 Pts
2016 Paul Autard Chateauneuf-du-Pape – The oak is the first thing you notice before moving on to layers of sweet ripe, opulently textured fruits. There is purity and weight here, with loads of fruits in the finish, along with wood. This will take time for everything to come together and for the oak to better integrate. The wine was made from a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. The wine was aged in 30% new, French oak barrels for 14 months. 90 Pts
2016 Paul Autard Cuvee Juline – Dark in color, the wine, made from equal parts Grenache and Syrah is big, powerful, dense and concentrated and oaky.. Following the color, you’re easy finding incense, espresso, spice box and smoke to accompany all the dark, red fruits. There is sweetness and depth, as well as vibrancy and opulence. The fruit is perfectly ripe and the fruit is round and lush, but you have to move past the oak, letting the wine age before you get to the real beauty found here. The wine is aged in 100% new, French oak for 19 months before bottling. Juline, takes it name from the names of Jules Autard and Pauline Autard, the children of the Autard family is one of the most modern styled wines in all of Chateauneuf du Pape.. 94 Pts
2016 Juliette Avril – Medium bodied, forward, easy drinking, kirsch dominated charmer with good fruit, texture and character for early drinking. 90 Pts
2016 Juliette Avril Cuvee Maxence – Soft textured, elegant, refined, silky, fresh styled wine, with a sweetness of fruit and depth of flavor that should drink well on release. 92 Pts
2016 la Barroche Fiancee – Strong black pepper notes, garrigue, barbecue and ripe, red berries gets things started. On the palate, the wine is full bodied, deep and loaded with olives, rocks, stones and deep, dark, ripe, sweet, spicy, fresh, red fruits. The wine was made by blending 50% Grenache with 50% Syrah. 96 Pts
2016 la Barroche Pure – This is pure silk and velvet. The wine is incredibly rich, yet it is almost weightless to taste. The freshness in the fruit, coupled with the vibrancy, pepper, length and velvet textures is off the hook. The wine expands, gaining in complexity as it flows across your palate. This is mind blowing juice with a finish that remains with you for close to 60 seconds! The wine, as you probably already know by now, takes its name from the fact that it’s made from 100% pure, old vine Grenache. 100 Pts
2016 la Barroche Signature – Silky, sweet, fresh, soft, elegant, ripe, spicy red fruits with a depth of flavor kick things off. On the palate the wine shows plush, polished characteristics with an olive and peppery accent that rides on top of all that ripe, juicy fruit in the finish. The wine is made from 62% Grenache and various other allowable grape varieties. 96 Pts
2016 Lucien Barrot et Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape – Medium bodied, with spicy, red fruits, olives and a strong herbal note in the finish. The wine was made from blending, 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and various other varieties. 88 Pts
2016 La Bastide Saint-Dominique Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Lusciously textured, full bodied, polished, sexy and complex, the fruit is ripe, there is density, length, purity and the spicy, supple, black raspberry and plums in the finish rocks! The wine was made by blending 80% Grenache 10% Syrah, 7% Mourvedre and 3% Cinsault. 94 Pts
2016 La Bastide Saint-Dominique Les Hesperides – Purity and freshness, elegance and depth, complexity and character all form to produce a beauty. The wine is juicy, fresh spicy and full bodied, with silky, spicy, thyme and peppery finish. The wine was made with a blend of 50% Grenache and 50% Mourvedre. 91 Pts
2016 La Bastide Saint-Dominique Les Secrets de Pignan – This is pure silk and sensuality. The fruit is perfectly ripe, the tannins and soft, polished and uplifting. The wine offers sweetness of fruit, purity, spicy notes and a long, complex, licorice, spice and pure, red cherry finish. A few years in the cellar will add even more character and complexity. The wine was made from 100% old vine Grenache. 98 Pts
2016 La Bastide Saint-Dominique Crous Saint Martin – Talk about having it all! Luscious, decadent textures, intensity of flavor, length, silky tannins and purity of fruit The wine coats your mouth, but is never heavy. Instead you find freshness, vibrancy and the need to taste it again and one more time, just to be sure. Produced from a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah. 97 Pts
2016 Beaucastel – It is easy to get lost in the aromatic complexities here with all the pepper, leaf, wet earth, spice, old wood, dark cherry and plum notes. On the palate, the wine is polished, deep, fresh, concentrated and sweet, Here, there is a purity and symmetry to the wine, along with a clean palate of fruits this year, that makes this a treat to taste, even at this young stage. Marc Perrin thinks this is the best wine produced here since the back to back duo of 1989 and 1990. I am sure this is better than both those previous vintages. It is a stunning wine that deserves your attention to find a bottle and taste it. This should have the ability to age for decades. 98 Pts
2016 Beaucastel Hommage a Jacques Perrin – Extremely dark ruby in color, the wine is incredibly refined. It offers a combination of power, richness, depth, intensity and freshness. The wine is palate staining, mouth filling, spicy and fresh. There are no hard edges here. As the wine rests in the glass, you find animalistic scents paired with black and blue fruits, 5 spice, flowers and a cornucopia of herbs in the nose. There is a richness that is impossible to ignore, but the lift and vibrancy in the fruit keep everything going. The finish hangs in there for more than 60 seconds. This is the best vintage of Hommage Perrin ever produced and that is really saying something! If you have the money, and can find a few bottles, this is a future legend that will be talked about for decades! The wine was made from a blend of 85% Mourvedre, 5% Syrah, 5% Grenache and 5% Counoise. As the vines continue aging, there will probably more Mourvedre in the blend in future vintages. 100 Pts
2016 Beauchene Grande Réserve – Earthy, peppery, sweet, ripe red fruits with freshness, soft tannins and a juicy, spicy finish is found here. This will be delicious on release. The wine was made with 80% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre and 5% Syrah. 90 Pts
2016 Beauchene Hommage à Odette Bernard – Spicy, peppery, sweet, round red fruits with energy and lift are found in this medium bodied, open styled wine. The wine was made blending 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. 92 Pts
2016 Beaurenard (Paul Coulon et Fils) – Ripe, round, lush and juicy, the wine offers sensuous textures and layers of fresh, juicy kirsch and cherry notes. Forward and full bodied, you should be able to enjoy this on release. The wine is produced from Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and various other allowable grape varieties. 93 Pts
2016 Beaurenard Boisrenard – Pure, dark black cherries, velvet textured tannins and waves of spice, licorice, plums, kirsch and pepper. Rich, luscious and long, yet balanced, fresh and pure, this is beautifully hedonistic in all the right ways. The wine was made from a Grenache dominated blend with close to 70% Grenache, that also utilizes old vine Mourvedre, Syrah and all the other allowable grape varieties in the appellation. 96 Pts
2016 Berthet-Rayne – Medium bodied and loaded with juicy, sweet, ripe, cherries, the wine is soft, fresh and forward making this a treat to drink on release. The wine was blended using 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 10% Cinsault and 5% Syrah. 92 Pts
2016 Berthet-Rayne Cuvee Cadiac – Medium bodied, forward, soft and supple. The spicy, fruity, charming, soft textured wine is refined, elegant and open. Fresh and polished, you can enjoy this on release. The wine is produced from a blend a Grenache dominated blend along with all the other allowable grape varieties from the appellation. 93 Pts
2016 Berthet-Rayne Vieilli en Fut de Chene – Earthy, garrigue, deep, red fruits, barnyard, dark spice and licorice set off the complex aromatics. On the palate the wine is lush, round and supple, leaving you with licorice and juicy, peppered plums in the end notes. You can definitely enjoy this beauty in its youth. The wine was made from a blend of 65% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre and 5% Counoise. 92 Pts
2016 Bienheureux – Sweet and salty, medium bodied, earthy, bright and crisp, the fresh, red berry centered wine was made from blending 90% Grenache with 10% Counoise. 90 Pts
2016 Jean-Pierre Boisson Domaine du Pere Caboche – Supple, silky and polished, with good freshness, length and purity in its sweet, kirsch, cherry and plummy fruits. The wine is made from blending 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. 92 Pts
2016 Jean-Pierre Boisson Domaine du Pere Caboche Vieille Vignes Elisabeth Chambellan – Soft, salty fresh and offering polished red berries and kirsch on the spicy side, the wine is made from blending 88% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 2% Mourvedre. 93 Pts
2016 Bosquet des Papes Chante Le Merle Vieilles Vignes – Supple, silky, polished and refined, the black licorice juxtaposes perfectly with the pure, sweet, peppery, spiced, kirsch. This sexy wine is full bodied, elegant and poised. There is length and purity in a beautiful style that is perfect for this vintage. The wine was made using 86% old vine Grenache, 7% Syrah and 7% Mourvedre. 98 Pts
2016 Bosquet des Papes Tradition – Finesse styled, concentrated, fresh and polished with an elegant lean to the sweet, ripe fruits, there is lift, character and complexity. The wine was blended from 75% Grenache, 12% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, 1% Vaccarese and 1% Counoise and 1% Cinsault. 93 Pts
2016 Bosquet des Papes La Folie – Black raspberries, kirsch, cherry and floral notes sing their song. The wine is pure silky decadence. There is tiny bit of new wood that is completely eaten by all the layers of perfectly ripe fruit. The purity in the fruit is striking here. The finish seems to go forever. I might be underrating this wine, as it is so nice to drink already. The wine is made blending 80% old vine Grenache and 20% Mourvedre. 97 Pts
2016 Cabrieres Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Rich and supple, with layers of sweet, ripe, juicy, red plums, cherries and kirsch, the wine is silky, fresh, juicy and lively, with length and sweetness in the spicy finish. The wine was made from a blend of 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre and 10% Cinsault. In time, this could be even better when it all comes together. 92 Pts
2016 Le Clos du Caillou Chateauneuf du Pape Tradition – Kirsch, cherries, strawberry and other assorted red berries and licorice meld perfectly here. The wine is pure, fresh, soft and silky. The wine promises to get better with aging. The wine was made using a blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah. 94 Pts
2016 Le Clos du Caillou La Reserve – With a serious depth of color, the wine exudes dark spicy, ripe, lush fruit. Power and purity, length and freshness, character and complexity all combine, leaving you with layers of ripe, fresh, pure, peppery kirsch. There is a purity to the fruit that stands out. The wine expands in the mid palate and the length in the finish is incredible! The wine is produced from a blend of 65% Grenache and 35% Mourvedre. 100 Pts
2016 Le Clos du Caillou Les Safres – Deep red fruits, silky tannins, spice, purity, freshness and a peppery, ripe, red berry finish all come together perfectly here. The wine is made using 95% Grenache, 2% Mourvedre, 2% Cinsault and 1% Vaccarese. 96 Pts
2016 Chanssaud d’Antan – Medium bodied, elegant, soft, sweet and polished, the bright red berries are fresh, mildly spicy and finish with a tinge of green olive and herbs. This should drink well in its youth. 91 Pts
2016 Chanssaud Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Early drinking, ripe, polished, round styled wine with ripe dark red fruits and a plushly textured finish. 89 Pts
2016 Chante Cigale – Fresh herbs, flowers, smoke and kirsch create the nose. On the palate, the wine is fresh refined, sweet, juicy and softly textured. The sweetness in the cherries sticks with you for quite a while in the finish. This is already quite charming to taste. The wine was made from a blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre and 5% Cinsault. 92 Pts
2016 Chante Cigale Extrait – One of the darkest wines of the vintage, this is akin to tasting velvet drenched, peppery, dark, red fruits. Concentrated, long and lush, the fruit just coats your palate. But this is not ponderous, it’s fresh, vibrant, pure, complex and juicy from start to finish. The wine is packaged in an oversized bottle with a wax capsule that stands out almost as much on the shelf as it does on your palate. The wine comes from a blend of 70% Mourvedre, paired with 30% old vine Grenache. 96 Pts
2016 Chante Cigale Vieilles Vignes – Loaded with dark, ripe, sweet, red fruits and spice box, the wine is concentrated, vibrant and open. You also find soft tannins, licorice, kirsch and black pepper in the nose and on the palate. The wine was made using a blend of 80% old vine Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. 94 Pts
2016 Chante Perdrix – Fresh, juicy, spicy, and sweet, spicy, peppery, dark red fruits, forward in style, with loads of sweet, fresh berries in the finish. 91 Pts
2016 Chante Perdrix, Henri Perges – Deep, dark and intense, the wine is full bodied and intense. There is power here, and so are the tannins. But the dark red, peppery, spiced fruit is perfectly ripe, definitely fresh and there is a lot of spicy character here in the long mid palate and finish. It will need time in the cellar to soften however, so be prepared to exercise patience. The wine was produced using 100% Mourvedre. 95 Pts
2016 Chante Perdrix – Flowers, pepper and ripe, sweet kirsch start things off. The wine is silky, fresh, elegant and supple. The finish leaves you wanting more of this beauty with all that ripe, juicy, red fruit in the finish. 96 Pts
2016 Chapelle St. Theodoric La Guigasse – Garrigue, pepper, ripe, juicy kirsch and black plums are all over the place. Concentrated, lush, sensuous and fresh, the wine has power, elegance and the ability to age and evolve. The wine is made using 100% old vine Grenache. 95 Pts
2016 Chapelle St. Theodoric le Grand Pin – Smoky, long, rich, silky and polished the wine is deeply concentrated, elegant, polished and fresh. There is length and density with the ability to age found here. The wine is made using 100% old vine Grenache. 94 Pts
2016 Chapelle St. Theodoric Les Sablons – Black raspberry and floral notes with their licorice accents distinguish the wine. Fresh, elegant, supple and sexy, the fruit is elegant, sweet, and ripe, with a kirsch leaning in the pure, cherry finish. The wine is made using 100% old vine Grenache. 93 Pts
2016 Chapoutier Barbe Rac – The top of the line Southern Rhone wine from Chapoutier shows layers of refined, elegant, silky, pure red fruits. The freshness, purity and length found here, with all its ripe, si;ky textured kirsch is a turn on. I can attest personally to the ageability of this wine, so give it time as it can age for up to 3 decades! The wine is produced from 100% old vine Grenache. 97 Pts
2016 Chapoutier Croix de Bois – Peppery, with loads of thyme, garrigue, kirsch and black raspberry, the wine is fresh, pure and silky with a luscious, velvety textured, spicy, red, fruit filled finish. The wine is made using 100% Grenache grapes. 96 Pts
2016 Chapoutier La Bernadine – The entry level Chateauneuf from Chapoutier is medium bodied, open and forward, with loads of ripe, spicy, sweet, juicy, red fruits, pepper and vibrancy. This is perfect for early drinking Grenache. The wine is made from a Grenache dominated blend with some Syrah. 91 Pts
2016 Charbonniere Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Spice box aromas are perfect for the rich, deep, fresh, sweet, round, supple textured red berries. The peppery, plummy, soft textured finish tastes as good as it feels. Drink this young or age it for more secondary nuances. 92 Pts
2016 Charbonniere Mourre des Perdrix – Combining freshness, elegance and peppery, spicy, red fruits with that Southern Rhone herbal quality, the wine leaves you with a fabulous, peppery kick in the finish. The blend was produced from 69% Grenache 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre and 1% Cinsault. 93 Pts
2016 Charbonniere Cuvee Speciale Les Hautes Brusquieres – The depth of flavor is even more noticeable than the dark color the wine is concentrated, full bodied and intense. Spicy, meaty, smoky, with layers of peppered black raspberries at every turn, give this time in the cellar for the Syrah to further develop and the tannins will soften as well. This should age nicely. The wine was produced using a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah. 95 Pts
2016 Domaine de la Charbonniere Vieilles Vignes – Deep ruby in color, the concentrated wine is lusciously textured, round, sweet and sensuous. The silky tannins and layers of sweet, ripe, pure cherries feels, tastes, and smells beguiling. The wine was produced from 90% old vine Grenache tempered with 10% Mourvedre. 97 Pts
2016 Charvin – Polished, purity of fruit, length and freshness, along with silky textures, concentration and symmetry. Classic in all the right ways, this is a knockout wine and a contender for the best vintage Charvin has produced yet! The wine was made blending 82% Grenache, 5% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre, 4% Counoise and 4% Vaccarese. 96 Pts
2016 Clef de Saint Thomas Pierre Troupel – Spicy, fresh sweet and vibrant, with juicy black raspberries ad pepper, the wine is medium bodied, forward and should offer pleasure early. The wine was made using equal portions of 70% Grenache and 50% Syrah. 90 Pts
2016 Domaine Clef de Saint Thomas La Clef de St. Thomas – Forward, silky soft and fresh, the wine offers sweet, dark, kirsch notes with spicy accents in an open, easy to like style with character. The wine was made from a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. This is best enjoyed in its youth. 88 Pts
2016 Clos des Brusquieres – The floral notes pop right away before you’re able to discover soft, juicy, plums, cherries, floral nuances and kirsch. I like the length, fruit and depth in this vintage. The wine was produced using 70% Grenache, with various other allowable varieties. 92 Pts
2016 Clos des Papes – The spicy cherries might be the first thing you notice, but it only gets better from there with all the flowers, pepper, herbs and kirsch that kicks in from there. Full bodied, rich, concentrated and luxurious in texture, the sensuous layers of cherry, plum and kirsch seem endless as they build and expand in the finish. The fruit has a beautiful purity and intensity that makes you want to taste it again and again. There is a hint of licorice and salinity in the finish that comes out with air. The wine is a blend of 55% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah and the remaining 5% consists of various, allowable grape varieties. This is a monumental vintage for Clos des Papes that should not be missed by fans of this wine. 100 Pts
2016 Clos du Mont Olivet – Luscious, forward, spicy, fresh, sweet, black raspberries, plums and cherries taste and feel great. The texture is silky and the fruit on the palate sticks with you long after the wine has left the glass. 92 Pts
2016 Clos du Mont Olivet Le Petiit Mont – Forward, fresh and vibrant, the wine is already delicious with its medium bodied, display of soft, sweet, peppery red fruits. The wine made its debut with the 2005 vintage. 89 Pts
2016 Clos du Mont Olivet Papet – Flowers, pepper, black raspberry and kirsch are in your face. Full bodied, soft and polished, the wine is opulent, rich, full bodied, sweet and pure. There is a wealth of fruit here that fills your palate. The fruit is pure and refined, with silky tannins in the finish. 96 Pts
2016 Clos Saint Antonin – This new wine, from the owners of DomaineJanasse is loaded with garrigue, bayleaf, olives, cherries, black raspberries and thyme. Plush, round, silky, fresh and sweet, the combination of fresh and spicy really works here in the finish. This is quite an extraordinary first effort. The wine was made from 100% Grenache. 95 Pts
2016 Clos Saint Michel Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Deep in color and fruit, the wine is round, supple and fresh, The tannins have a hint of salt, the fruit comes with added nuances of black cherries, thyme and pepper with a backing note of smoke. The wine is a blend of 40% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre and 30% Syrah. 92 Pts
2016 Clos Saint Michel Reservée – It is impossible not to see, taste and feel the richness, depth, sweetness and purity of the fruit here. Lush in texture, long and with depth of flavor, give this some time in the cellar to further round out, soften and add more nuance. The wine is a blend of 40% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre and 30% Syrah. 95 Pts
2016 Comte de Lauze – Medium bodied, with spicy peppery fruits, elegant textures, freshness and sweetness, this charmer is ready when you are. You can easily enjoy this on release. The wine was made from blending 80% Grenache with 20% Syrah. 92 Pts
2016 Comte de Lauze Reserve de la Comtesse – Flowers, cherries and thyme are what you find first. On the palate the medium/full bodied wine is soft, round, rich, deep and inviting, with freshness and ripe fruits galore. The wine is made from blending 60% Grenache with 40% Syrah. This is the best wine ever produced by Comte de Lauze! 95 Pts
2016 Cote de lAnge Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Medium bodied, forward, lush, polished wine with ripe, sweet, fruits and hints of coffee, thyme and cherries in the mix. The plushly textured wine was made from blending 65% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah. This is a big leap up from previous vintages. 93 Pts
2016 Cristia Renaissance – Deep in color, the wine is big, juicy and rich, a well as luscious in texture, The fruits are perfectly ripe, there is density, freshness and complexity. But this is not your grandmothers Chateauneuf du Pape. Instead, this is a delicious example of a concentrated, richly textured, ripe, juicy, modern styled Southern Rhone that has it all going on. The wine is made from 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvedre. 95 Pts
2016 Cuvee du Vatican – Medium bodied, with a salty accent to the garrigue dusted, crisp, red fruits. This should drink well young. The wine is made using 65% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. 89 Pts
2016 Fines Roches Cuvée des Fines Roches – Medium bodied, soft, refined, silky red fruits, cracked pepper and kirsch are all over the place. Forward in style, the wine has sweetness and ripe tannins that makes for early drinking pleasure. The wine was produced from 34% Mourvedre, 33% Grenache and 33% Syrah. 92 Pts
2016 Fines Roches – Medium bodied, elegant, soft and refined, the wine is fresh, soft and sweet, with a nice, juicy, kirsch note on the backend that will be perfect for early drinking pleasure. The wine was produced from 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 8% Mourvedre, 5% Cinsault and equal parts of Cinsault and Muscardin. 90 Pts
2016 La Destinee de Clement V – Peppery black raspberries, garrgue, mint and herbs open the nose. The wine is medium bodied, fresh, sweet, ripe and juicy. Easy to drink with its soft, silky textures fruity character and freshness. The wine is owned and produced by Bernard Magrez, who is best known for owning Chateau Pape Clement in Bordeaux. 92 Pts
2016 Jean Deydier Les Clefs d’Or – Medium bodied, elegant, fresh, and polished, this should be great to taste on release with all its ripe, luscious, soft, sweet, ripe, red berries. The wine was made from 65% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah and assorted other grape varieties. 91 Pts
2016 Jean Deydier Les Clefs d’Or Les Craus Centenaires – Rich, ripe, lush, round, supple, lure, fresh kirsch, the wine shows purity, elegance, balance and freshness, with a nice peppery kick in the finish. Produced from 100% old vine Grenache. 95 Pts
2016 La Fagotiere – Soft textured, medium bodied, spicy and loaded with garrigue on the palate and the nose, the finish offers olives and kirsch in the endnote. The wine was produced from 70% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. 90 Pts
2016 La Fagotiere Le Rigodon – Medium bodied, elegant, forward, soft, fresh and sweet, there is a polish to the tannins and a peppery character to the ripe, black raspberry and kirsch notes. The wine is made from blending 70% Grenache with 30% Mourvedre. 91 Pts
2016 Eddie Feraud – Peppery red fruits stand out here. The wine is lush, peppery, fresh and finishes with Herbs de Provence, spicy red berries and soft, textures. The wine is made from blending 85% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre and an array of various AOC allowable grapes. 91 Pts
2016 Eddie Feraud Cuvee Les Raisins Bleus – The licorice covered, spicy kirsch and cherries just rock. The wine is rich, supple, forward and sexy. The finish offers lift, silky textures and fresh, spicy fruits that do not want to quit. The wine is produced from blending 95% old vine Grenache with 5% coming from various, assorted, other grape varieties. 94 Pts
2016 Ferme Chabran – Fresh, soft, medium bodied, early red berry oriented charmer. The wine was made using 77% Grenache, 11% Mourvedre, 9% Counoise and 3% Syrah. 88 Pts
2016 de Ferrand Chateauneuf du Pape – Full bodied, lush, rich, ripe, round and fresh, the peppery, sweet, red fruits offer sweetness, purity, character and length. The wine was made from blending 90% Grenache, 8% Syrah and 2% Mourvedre. 92 Pts
2016 Ferrando Colombis – Deep ruby in color, the wine is concentrated, lush, round and peppery fresh. There is a definition to each layer of fruit that varies from black raspberry to kirsch. Opulent, rich and fresh, this is pure velvet in the mouth. The finish, with its purity of fruit seriously goes on and on. Complete decadence is the best way to describe this must have wine. The wine is made from 100% old vine Grenache. For a wine of this quality, it is one of the steals of the vintage. 100 Pts
2016 Font de Courtedune – Polished, medium bodied, bright, fresh, soft and sweet, this refined, elegant example of Chateauneuf du Pape will be easy to drink on release. The wine was produced from 99% Grenache and assorted other varieties. This was my first time seeing this wine, I hope it will not be my last. 92 Pts
2016 Fontavin Cuvee David et Goliat – Round, forward, juicy and lush, this modern styled wine pops with espresso, smoke, black cherries and spice. Lush and polished, ripe and sweet, this concentrated and complex wine can age, as well as show great in its youth, due to its round, fruit filled, open character. The wine is produced from 95% old vine Grenache and 5% Syrah and is aged in mostly, new oak barrels. 95 Pts
2016 Fontavin Trilogies – Floral, soft and polished, with silky, polished tannins, freshness and just enough spicy, peppery, black raspberry in the finish to satisfy. The wine was produced blending 80% Grenachre, 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. 92 Pts
2016 Fortia Cuvee du Baron – Stony, spicy and peppery, the wine is full bodied and dark in color as well as in the fruit it offers. There is density and volume with freshness in the mineral driven finish. Give this some time in the bottle. The wine is made from a blend of 55% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 15% Mourvedre. 92 Pts
2016 Fortia Tradition – The spicy notes from the Mourvedre and depth and backbone from the Syrah bring the Grenache home. Medium bodied and fresh with a stony character the finish, this is the best Fortia tradition I can remember tasting in ages. The wine is made from 50% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre and 25% Syrah. 90 Pts
2016 Fortia Reserve – Pepper, smoked meat and red fruits are the first thing you note before moving on to the layers of sweet, lush, red fruits and spice on the palate. There is intensity and purity with a strong garrigue note in the ripe finish. The wine is made from 100% old vine Grenache.. 94 Pts
2016 Galevan Chateauneuf du Pape – Licorice, herbs, deep red fruits all combine to produce an opulent, round, richly textured wine with freshness, length and character. The wine was produced using 91% Grenache with 9% Mourvedre. 92 Pts
2016 Galevan St. Georges – Forward, soft, earthy and loaded with garrigue along with ripe, juicy red fruits. The wine was made from 100% old vine Grenache. 93 Pts
2016 Gardine Chateauneuf du Pape – Ripe, round, dark and juicy, the oak is out in front to greet you, followed by espresso, deep, dark waves of fruit, lush tannins and an opulent textured finish. 92 Pts
2016 Gardine Cuvee de Generations – Big, deep, powerful, fleshy and alcoholic, this makes quite an impression with all its layers of ripe, dark sweet, ripe, flesh fruits. 94 Pts
2016 la Genestiere – Licorice, dark plums and cherries on the nose palate, with a supple, round, luscious textured, sweet and peppery finish. The wine was produced from blending 49% Syrah, 36% Grenache, 7% Mourvedre and assorted other varieties. 90 Pts
2016 Georges-Lombriere Cuvée Marie – Medium bodied, with ripe cherries, pepper and licorice at its core, the wine is soft, polished, forward and loaded with early drinking, spicy charms. The wine was made from blending 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. 91 Pts
2016 Gigognan Clos du Roi – Strong garrigue, herb and olive notes with salinty and peppery red fruits are out in front before you find the ripe, dark red fruits. Those characteristics carry through from start to finish. The wine is made from 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. 92 Pts
2016 Gigognan Cuvee Cardinalice – Flowers, herbs, kirsch, black raspberry and licorice need little effort to find their way from your glass. On the palate, the rich wine is luscious, polished soft and fresh. There is concentration, energy and a nice saltiness in the fruity, plush finish. The super wine is created from 100% old vine Grenache. 94 Pts
2016 Giraud Cuvee les Grenaches de Pierre – Flowers, wild cherries and thyme shoot out of the glass. The wine is fresh, vibrant, refined and focused on its purity and elegance. There is depth, concentration, length and minerality with a real purity to the fruits that truly expresses itself here. The stunning wine is made from 100% old vine Grenache. 99 Pts
2016 Giraud Les Gallimardes – Dark in hue, the wine offers rock and stones along with salty tannins that adds mineral nuances to the ripe, fresh, red berries. There is structure and backbone that will allow this beauty to age well. This is not a forward easy drinker, it will need time to fully express its full potential. The wine was made from blending 90% Grenache with 10% Syrah. 97 Pts
2016 Giraud Tradition – Full bodied, intense, lush, rich and with a serious depth of flavor, the fruit is sweet, spicy, fresh, long and intense. The finish is packed with ripe, dark cherries, black plum, kirsch and peppery spices. It’s hard to believe this is their entry level wine, because it’s so good. The wine was produced from blending 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. 94 Pts
2016 Giuliana – Medium bodied, focusing on its, fresh, sweet, red fruit. Loads of garrigue here with a layer of kirsch and olives in the finish. 89 Pts
2016 Giuliana Les Galets Jenne – As you can easily surmise, this special cuvee takes its name from the large, blonde stones in the vineyard. Medium bodied, finesse in character and on the bright, fresh red berry side of the style range, the wine is crisp, juicy, peppery and leaves you with sweet red fruits in the finish. 91 Pts
2016 Grand Tinel Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Medium bodied, fresh, sweet and elegant in style, the juicy kirsch and thyme notes sticks with you from start to finish. 91 Pts
2016 Grand Tinel Alexis Establet – Black raspberry, kirsch, flowers and smoky earth gets your focus on the nose. The sexy, sensuous, ripe, elegant and fresh palate is where the action is. There is length and purity of fruit in the long, plush finish. The wine is made from 100% old vine Grenache. 95 Pts
2016 Grand Tinel Heres – Silk and velvet on the palate, the concentrated, full bodied wine has a depth of flavor, as well as elegance, refinement, and purity of fruit. It is effortless to drink and should age well for at least 2 decades. The wine was made from 100% old vine Grenache. 97 Pts
2016 Grand Veneur Le Miocène – Garrigue, mint, thyme, pepper, smoked meat and red fruits are all over the place. The palate shows sweet, lush, refined, red fruits that offer freshness, silky tannins and length. The wine was made using a blend of 70% old vine Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. 94 Pts
2016 Grand Veneur Les Origines – Lush, opulent, ripe, deep fruits with loads of pepper, black cherry, fig and plum are all over the place. Concentrated, big and mouth filling, the wine has depth, length and staying power. The new oak used during the aging has faded into the layers of fruit. This is a very hedonistic style of wine. The wine was made with a blend of 50% old vine Grenache, 30% Mourvedre and 20% Syrah. 96 Pts
2016 Grand Veneur Vieilles Vignes – Ruby with ink in its hue, the wine is off the charts in the terms of concentration. Dense, mouth filling, long and intense, the wine coats every nook and cranny of your palate with layers of juicy, dark red fruits, spice, pepper and jam. The texture is akin to velvet. The fruit filled finish, with all its peppery goodness does not quit. The wine was made from blending 50% Grenache, 40% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah. 98 Pts
2016 Husson – Medium bodied, soft, polished, fresh, bright and fruity with an earthy garrigue and olive character to the finish. The wije was made from blending 60% Grenache, 37% Mourvedre and 3% Syrah. 90 Pts
2016 Janasse Chateauneuf du Pape – Already delicious, the wine is richly textured, with loads of peppery, slightly jammy, fresh, peppery fruits. The lush finish is juicy, fruity, round and sweet. The wine was made from blending 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre and 5% Cinsault. 92 Pts
2016 Janasse Cuvee Chaupin – Smoky, fleshy and flashy, the wine is filled with layers of polished, perfectly, ripe, juicy sweet, fresh, vibrant, peppery plums and cherries. Full bodied, lush and rich, this is just great now and is only going to get better with age! The wine is made using 100% old vine Grenache. 96 Pts
2016 Janasse Vieilles Vignes – Deeply colored, this is incredibly concentrated. The wine is fleshy, silky and palate staining. The fruit coats your palate, but it’s never heavy, or overblown. Instead, everything is in balance. The richly textured wine has polish, length and purity, along with a sexy style and a finish that you cannot stop tasting, staying with you for over 50 seconds! The wine is a blend of 85% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 5%Mourvedre. 99 Pts
2016 Jas de Bressy Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Medium bodied, elegant soft, bright, sweet and fresh, the finish, juicy, spicy and sweet. The wine was made from 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. 92 Pts
2016 Jean Royer Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Lusciously textured, with sweet, juicy kirsch and cherries, you also find tobacco, pepper and herbs to add nuance. The wine was made using 90% Grenache, 5% Syrah and 5% Cinsault. 93 Pts
2016 Domaine La Cabotte Vieilles Vignes – Lush and round in texture, the wine is full bodied, sweet, and polished. The wine is made from mostly old vine Grenache and other assorted, allowable, red and white grape varietals. 92 Pts
2016 La Nerthe Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Smoke, incense, herbs and red fruits are in the nose. On the palate, the wine offers round, sweet, ripe, smoky, dark red berries, finishing with a real sense of plushness. The wine is concentrated and polished and was produced using mostly Grenache with Syrah, Mourvedre and several other assorted grape varietals which can vary widely, from vintage to vintage. 93 Pts
2016 La Nerthe Cuvee des Cadettes – Spicy, sweet, soft and fresh, the vibrant red fruits offer length, precision and length with complexity. It is going to take time in the cellar ti come around, so be prepared to wait. The wine was made from blending 52% Grenache, 38% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. 95 Pts
2016 la Sousto Lucien Gabriel Barrot – Medium bodied, soft, and loaded with garrigue olives ad dried, red pit fruit with an easy to like, soft textured finish. Dominated by Grenache, the wine also includes Syrah, Mourvedre and assorted other allowable varietals. 91 Pts
2016 LAbbe Dine La Reserve des Cieux – Dark, black cherries, licorice, spice and pepper notes shine quickly here. The wine is round, soft, forward and while it can age, it should also offer pleasure early, due to the all the ripe, sweet fruits and soft tannins. The wine was made from 100% old vine Grenache. 92 Pts
2016 LAbbe Dine – Elegantly textured, pure cherries and garrigue with a soft, refined, medium bodied, character that you can enjoy young or age a few years. The wine was made from 90% Grenache, 8% Mourvedre and 2% Syrah. 91 Pts
2016 Lavau Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Medium bodied, early drinking wine with a forward, red berry core of fruit. Best to enjoy this young. The wine was produced using 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. 90 Pts
2016 lOr de Line Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Herbs, olives and sweet, red fruits with a spicy angle, coupled with round, fleshy textures and a fruity finish are what you find here from start to finish. The wine was made from 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 30% Syrah and 10% Clairette. 92 Pts
2016 l’Or de Line Cuvee Paule Courtil – Smoky, dark fruits, lush, polished tannins and freshness are on the nose and palate. The finish feels great with its garrigue, black pepper and dark red fruits. The wine is produced from 80% Grenache with the remainder coming from various other grape varieties. 94 Pts
2016 Maravilhas Espirito – With a smoke, spice and ash character, you also find herbs, thyme, earth, barnyard and peppery red fruits. The wine offers freshness, earthy, red fruits and a peppery finish. This should become better with age. The wine is made from 100% Syrah. I’m not normally a big fan of this much Syrah in a Southern Rhone wine, but I am liking this wine once again. 91 Pts
2016 Marcoux Chateauneuf du Pape – Beautiful, sweet, cherry, floral and garrigue notes pop right up. On the palate, the wine is elegant, refined, soft and silky, with loads of ripe, juicy, sweet kirsch to keep you busy in the finish. The wine was made blending 85% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre and 5% Syrah. 93 Pts
2016 Marcoux Vieilles Vignes – Pure elegance, silk, refinement and elegance and purity of fruit exist here. Everything about this wine shows purity, delicacy and charm. The kirsch is perfectly ripe, sweet, fresh and hits all the right spits. There is nothing out of place. This should age gracefully for at least 2 decades or longer. The wine is made from 100% old vine Grenache.. 97 Pts
2016 Mas de Boislauzon Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Flowers, spice and incredibly sweet, fresh ripe red berries are all over the place here. There is texture, freshness, length and character that leaves with a spicy kirsch and pepper note in the juicy finish. The wine was made from blending 70% Grenache with 30% Mourvedre. This remains one of the best bargains in Chateauneuf du Pape for character and quality today. 93 Pts
2016 Mas de Boislauzon Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee du Quet – Deep in color, the wine pops with ripe, juicy, dark, sweet, spicy, round, peppery fruits. Silky, lush and powerful, graceful, fresh and long, this is just great juice! This should age quite nicely. The wine was made from blending 80% Grenache with 20% Mourvedre. 96 Pts
2016 Mas Grange Blanche Chateauneuf-du-Pape la Font des Bessounes – Lush, round, sweet and forward, the fruit is ripe, the added notes of licorice and black cherry along with herbs hits the spot. This will drink just fine on release. The wine is blended using 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 20% Mourvedre. 90 Pts
2016 Mas Saint Louis Chateauneuf du Pape – With a strong garrigue and olive note that rides on top of the red berries, the wine can use a few years in the cellar to help the fruit come to the forefront. The wine was made from blending 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Cinsault and 5% Syrah. 89 Pts
2016 Mas Saint-Louis Chateauneuf-du-Pape Les Arpents des Contrebandiers – Floral notes are the first thing you find before moving to the salty, lively, fresh, red berry notes. Soft and fresh, with peppery, kirsch and minerals in the finish. You should be able to enjoy this on release. The wine was made with 75% Grenache and assorted, other allowable, grape varieties. 93 Pts
2016 Mas Saint Louis Grande Reserve – Juicy black cherries, garrigue and red cherry notes are present from start to finish. Soft and polished, lush and sweet, the wine will drink well on release. The wine was made blending 80% Grenache with 20% Mourvedre. 91 Pts
2016 Maucoil Chateauneuf-du-Pape – There is a sweetness in the cherries in the nose, which moves you to a plush textured, full bodied, supple styled wine with layers of ripe, red berries and spice in the finish. The wine was blended with 60% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre and 10% Cinsault. 92 Pts
2016 Maucoil l’Esprit de Maucoil – Rich, peppery and fresh, there is a minerality that adds to the complexity, along with olives, garrigue, plum and cherry notes. The wine is full, round and forward, with lots of spicy, sweet fruit in the finish. The wine was produced using a Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre blend that includes various other allowable grape varieties. 93 Pts
2016 Maucoil Privilege – Peppery black raspberries, flowers and kirsch rise to the surface in the nose. On the palate, the wine is polished, softy textured with silky tannins and layers of sweet,, ripe, fresh, juicy, ripe dark, red fruits. The white wine grapes in the blend add the perfect, exotic, lush note. The wine was produced using a Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre blend with several other assorted grape varieties. 96 Pts
2016 La Mereuille Les Baptaurels – Fresh, lively and medium bodied, the wine is focused on its peppery, black raspberry and kirsch notes. There is a touch of wood in the top note, which quickly fades with air. The wine was made using 100% Grenache. 92 Pts
2016 Domaine La Milliere La Bessade – Peppery, herbal, soft textured, ripe, spicy, red fruits with a spicy finish. This could use a few hours of air in its youth. The blend was produced from 100% old vine Grenache. 91 Pts
2016 La Milliere Vieilles Vignes – Medium bodied, soft, elegant, forward, ripe and refined, the kirsch has a peppery angle that adds to the character, keeping the wine fresh, rich, deep and complex. The blend was produced from 60% old vine Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, 10% Cinsault and 10% Counoise. 93 Pts
2016 Moulin Tacussel Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Medium bodied, floral and fresh, the wine is all about its ripe, bright, red fruits and elegant stylings. The wine was produced from 70% Grenache blended with various, assorted, AOC allowed varietals. 91 Pts
2016 Moulin Tacussel Hommage a Henry Tacussel – Lush, rich, plush, ripe, concentrated and loaded with sweet, juicy plums, kirsch, black cherries, licorice and spice. The wine has flesh, complexity and vibrancy. It is an engaging wine to drink. The wine is made using 100% old, vine Grenache. 94 Pts
2016 Mourre-du-Tendre Heritage – Earthy, luscious, deep, ripe, polished, soft fruits with sweetness, length, density and a full body paired with a smoky accent is what’s on the menu here. The fruit and tannins are silky, polished and long. The wine was made from blending 90% Grenache with 10% Mourvedre. 94 Pts
2016 Mourre-du-Tendre Vieilles Vignes – Lush, deep, silky, round, fleshy red fruits with polished tannins, freshness and a finish that is all about the sweet, fresh, juicy kirsch. The wine was made from blending 90% old vine Grenache with 10% Mourvedre. 92 Pts
2016 Mousset-Barrot Cinsault – Light ruby in color, with very spicy, fresh, cherry dominated scents, the wine is short, sweet and quite to imbibe with its zesty, kirsch fruits. 89 Pts
2016 Mousset-Barrot Forgot Me Not Vaccarese – Medium bodied, elegant, soft, fresh, forward, bright and easy to drink, but lacking in complexity. Still it was fun to taste this. This could be the first time I have ever tasted a wine made from 100% Vaccarese. 88 Pts
2016 Nalys Saintes Pierres – Full, rich, deep and concentrated, there is intensity, purity, freshness and vibrancy that keeps this going from the initial sniff and sip, through to the finish. The wine is made from a Grenache dominated blend with Mourvedre and various assorted allowable grape varieties. 94 Pts
2016 Nalys Grand Vin – Rich, with layers of smoke filled, ripe, sweet, polished, fresh red fruits. Cherries and plums are all over the place, with peppery, mineral driven accents. The wine is quite full bodied, due to the nature of it being dominated by Syrah. Give this some time in the cellar to show its best. 96 Pts
2016 Antoine-Ogier Heritages – Soft, silky, polished and fresh, the wine exudes sweet kirsch and spicy notes from start to finish, in the medium bodied, forward, easy drinking, styled wine. 89 Pts
2016 Antoine-Ogier Bois de Pied Redal – Produced from Grenache, blended with Syrah and Mourvedre, the wine is elegant, soft, fresh, medium bodied, forward and spicy with a finish loaded with juicy, sweet, kirsch. 91 Pts
2016 Antoine-Ogier Reine Jeanne – Kirsch covered with licorice and sweet cherry aromas lead you to a medium bodied, fresh, ripe, silky, forward, blast of spicy, bright red fruits. The wine is made from blending 85% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre and 5% Syrah. You can enjoy this young. 92 Pts
2016 Pegau Cuvee da Capo – Inky, dark, ruby in color, the combines insane levels of intensity with refinement and elegance. The black fruits has a surreal sense of purity. The wine is concentrated, deep and long, with peppery nuances and dark red berries in the finish. The end note last 60 seconds. This is a remarkable wine and the best vintage of Cuvee da Capo to date. This is off the charts in all the right ways! 100 Pts
2016 Pegau Reservee – With its distinctive, earthy, animalistic, herbs de Provence, pepper and red berry nose, the wine is full bodied, fresh, intense, concentrated, deep and long. The fruit shows its character with little effort required. The peppery, spicy, garrigue notes that accompany all the dark red berries is really singing. This is one of the top vintages for Pegau and that is really saying something. Time in the cellar will help add depth, complexity and softness to this wine, allowing it to flesh and expand. The wine is a blend of 80% Grenache and various other AOC allowed grape varieties. 97 Pts
2016 des Peres de L’Eglise Heritage – Spice box, smoked meat, earth garrigue and dark, juicy plums kick things off. Lushly textured, with soft, ripe tannins and a peppery, herb and fresh, red pit fruits galore, the wine is fruity, polished and vibrant. The blend is made from 85% old vine Grenache, 15% Mourvedre and 5% Cinsault. 94 Pts
2016 des Peres de L’Eglise Le Calice de Saint-Pierre – Cuvee Heritage – A hint of smoke enters the perfume along with jammy, black red fruits, pepper and herbs. Ripe, round, fruity and juicy, with good concentration and a long finish makes the wine taste and feel great. The blend is made from 85% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. 93 Pts
2016 Roger Perrin Maison La Berthaude Tradition – Floral in character, with layers of supple textured, sensuous fruit, the wine is richly textured, soft, polished, fresh and long. This is really great stuff. The wine is made from 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah. 91 Pts
2016 Roger Perrin La Berthaude Reserve des Vignes Centenaires – Silky, rich, fresh and pure, the wine has lift, sensuality and depth of character, with all its perfectly ripe, red fruits, spice and herbal personality. The wine is made from 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. 94 Pts
2016 Roger Perrin Maison La Berthaude Vieilles Vignes – Herbs and flowers pair well with the generous kirsch, licorice and cherry notes. Long, silky and polished. The wine is made from 70% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah and other varieties. 92 Pts
2016 Roger Perrin de la Berthaude – Elegant, soft, stony and fresh, there is a nice salty quality to the tannins which adds to the sweet red fruits in the elegantly textured wine. The wine is made from 80% Grenache and 20%. 91 Pts
2016 Roger Perrin Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Medium bodied, silky, round, soft and polished, there is a hint of oak, but there is far too much ripe, sweet, juicy red fruits, to care. Forward and already charming, this is quite nice. The wine was made from blending 70% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, 3% Cinsault and 2% Clairette. 90 Pts
2016 Roger Perrin Chateauneuf-du-Pape Reserve des Vieilles Vignes – Some oak shows in the initial sensing of the aromatics. Still, it is hard not to like the sweetness in the kirsch, freshness in the cherries or silk in the finish. The wine is made from 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. 92 Pts
2016 Pignan – Earth and garrigue are easy to discern, along with the elegant, soft, ripe, red fruits, silky textures and forward style that’s loaded with kirsch from start to finish. The wine is a blend of 64% Grenache, 13% Mourvedre, 12% Syrah and other various allowable grape varieties. 91 Pts
2016 Pignan Cuvee Speciale Coralie et Floriane – Lush, silky, long and sweet, the deep red, spicy, meaty fruits are perfectly ripe. There is good density, sweetness and complexity. The wine is made from 34% Grenache, 33% Mourvedre and 33% Syrah. 93 Pts
2016 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve – Clearly, this is going to be one of the great vintages of Rayas ever produced! With a finish that sticks with you for over 60 seconds, the endless layers of silky, fresh, sweet, vibrant, cherries grabs you. The fruit has this haunting sense of purity that makes you wonder, how on earth did they capture that? There is depth, complexity and volume that goes on for days. Rayas is becoming harder to find every year. But if you have the disposable income and the connections to land a few bottles of this magic elixir, jump on it. Wines like this do not come around all that often. 100 Pts
2016 Reveirolles Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Forward and easy to drink, the wine is fruity, fresh, round, soft and ready to go with its dark kirsch and olive tapanade finish. 91 Pts
2016 Reveirolles Selection – Polished textures, soft tannins, ripe dark red berries and early drinkability, with a juicy mouthful of, lush, ripe fruits, pepper and herbs is what you find here. The wine was made from 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. 94 Pts
2016 Roger Sabon Cuvee Prestige – Perfectly ripe, juicy, kirsch, plums and cracked pepper just rocks here! The wine is polished, soft and energetic, with a soft, fresh and fruity finish. The wine was made blending 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre and assorted AOC grape varieties that make up the remainder of the blend. 94 Pts
2016 Roger Sabon Le Secret des Sabon – The wine offers a myriad complexities on the nose. On the palate, the wine serves up a dense, decadently, opulent finish. The wine feels like each berry was hand polished, elegant and pure with all the depth your can handle everything is balanced and harmonious. The wine is produced from 95% old vine Grenache with 5% coming from various grape varieties. 99 Pts
2016 Roger Sabon Les Olivets – Elegant, sweet, polished and pure, the medium bodied, wine serves up, ripe, silky cherries without being asked. This is such a great, refined style here, it was impossible to put down the glass. The ability to age and enjoy young, is rare combination to find, but that’s what you get here. The wine was made blending 80% Grenache, 10% Cinsault and 10% Syrah. 93 Pts
2016 Roger Sabon Réserve – Take incredibly ripe, sweet, fresh, black raspberries, blend them with cracked pepper, add in silk and velvet for texture and that is what you have going on here. The wine was produced blending 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah. 95 Pts
2016 Saint Laurent Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Soft, silky, elegant, sweet cherries are all over the place here. The wine is medium bodied and already fun to drink. The wine was made from a blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre. 89 Pts
2016 Saint Laurent Passion des Papes – Medium bodied, forward and loaded with garrigue and ripe, juicy, fresh, dark red fruits. The tannins are soft, the wine is open and this should be fun to drink early, yet age reasonably well. The wine was made from a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah. 92 Pts
2016 Saint Prefert Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Polished, soft and silky, the feels as good as it tastes. The fresh plums and cherries are ripe, juicy and with the right amount of peppery spice in the endnote. It is hard to find a better wine of this quality for the money. If you are not familiar with it, you need to check it out! 94 Pts
2016 Saint Prefert Collection Charles Giraud – Intensely concentrated, yet light on its feet, this is all about the purity of fruit, sensuous, sexy, velvet textures, and expansive layers of fruit in the finish that must last close to 60 seconds. There is a depth of flavor that invites your palate to explore the wine again and again looking for what else might happen! The wine was made blending 60% old vine Grenache with 40% Mourvedre. 100 Pts
2016 Saint Prefert Reserve Auguste Favier – Velvety textures, spicy, pure, sweet, black raspberry and kirsch notes, with a concentrated mid palate and a fresh, peppery, cherry filled finish that keeps on going with its multiple layers of sweet, red and dark red fruits. What’s not to like? The wine was produced from a blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Cinsault. 97 Pts
2016 Saint Siffrein Chateauneuf-du-Pape – The peppery notes are strong here, which is a good thing as it really adds to the fruit. The wine is supple, fresh, juicy and sweet, with a lush, deep finish. The wine was made from blending 65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre and 5% Cinsault. Give it a few years in the cellar as there is potential for aging here. 93 Pts
2016 Saint Siffrein Chateauneuf-du-Pape Terre d’Abel – Deep, and moody, spicy and herbal, the dark, spicy red fruits appear with ease. The wine is full bodied, rich, lush deep and long. The fruit is as spicy as it is sweet. There is length and density, along with freshness and depth of fruit here. The wine was made from 65% Mourvedre, 20% Syrah and 15% Grenache. 95 Pts
2016 Domaine Santa Duc Habemus Papam – Flowers, black pepper, herbs and dark red fruits are the first thing you note, but not the last. Here, you also enjoy density, richness, length and supple textured, sweet, deep, red fruits that last. The wine was made from blending 64% Grenache 25% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre and 1% Counoise. 96 Pts
2016 Domaine Santa Duc La Crau Ouest – Offering silky textures, purity of fruit, vibrant, freshness and length. The kirsch shows a purity and freshness in its elegant nature. Give it a couple of years to fill out a bit more. The wine was made from 100% old vine Grenache from the La Crau lieu-dit, and was aged in terra cotta, Amphora jars. 95 Pts
2016 Domaine Santa Duc Le Pied de Baud – With a whisper of smoke, the spicy red fruit, licorice, peppery, earth and herbs are paired with red berries that are bright, vibrant and fresh. The wine offers a lifted, red fruit character in the finish. The wine was produced from 80% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre and 5% Cinsault. 98 Pts
2016 Domaine Santa Duc Les Saintes Vierges – Light on its feet, the wine is elegant, refined, soft and fresh, The fruits have energy. The tannins are gentle, allowing you to focus on the purity in the red fruits in the finish. The wine was produced from blending 90% Grenache, 9% Mourvedre and 1% Counoise. 96 Pts
2016 Saumades Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Medium bodied, forward and soft, the wine’s sweet, red fruits, spicy characteristics and freshness is already starting to show well. You can enjoy this on release. 90 Pts
2016 Semelles Pur Mourvedre – Rich, dense, lush and loaded with spicy, dark red fruits, the wine has crushed rock, spice and peppery notes that accompany the wealth of deep, dark, red fruits on the palate and in the finish. The wine as the name implies was produced from 100% Mourvedre. 95 Pts
2016 Senechaux Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Spicy, silky, lush, sweet and supple, the fruits show off their spicy character with little effort. This elegantly, styled wine is soft, with a peppery, kirsch filled finish that keeps on going. This is the best vintage yet for Senechaux. The wine is made using mostly Grenache, with Syrah, Mourvedre, and various other allowable, grape varieties. 93 Pts
2016 Simian Le Traversier – With a strong garrigue and herbal leaning, you also find sweet, ripe, red fruits and loads of olive tapanade in the medium bodied, round finish. The wine was made blending 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre, 5% Cinsault and 5% Counoise. 92 Pts
2016 Simian Chateauneuf-du-Pape les Grandes Grenachieres d’Hippolyte – The garrigue is strong here, and it’s accompanied by thyme, mint and olives which add to the spicy, fresh, juicy, sweet kirsch notes. Full bodied, spicy and polished, the wine is long, deep and fresh, with good concentration, length and complexity. The wine was produced using 100% old vine Grenache. 96 Pts
2016 Sixtine Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Peppery, spicy, sweet, pure, soft textured red fruits create an elegant, refined, silky expression. There is depth of flavor and sweet, ripe, olive tinged, kirsch in the end notes. The wine was made from blending 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 25% Mourvedre. 93 Pts
2016 Solitude – Medium bodied, elegant, soft, silky polished and fresh, the fruit is ripe, there is a refinement and purity here. With its abundance of sweet, ripe, cherries, this is already just great to taste today. 92 Pts
2016 Sommeliers Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Medium bodied, elegantly styled, fresh and forward, this fresh, red berry focused wine is ready for early consumption. The wine was made using 65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre and 5% Cinsault. 90 Pts
2016 St. Paul L’Insolite – Smoke, old wood, burning leaves, barnyard, spice and dark, meaty red fruits emerge in the glass with a bit of swirling. On the palate, the wine has power, concentration and a full body. The tannins are gentle. There is an iron quality to the dark red fruits. Give this time in the bottle and it should be even more complex. Made from 100% Syrah, this is an interesting wine to taste, as there are only a handful of Chateauneuf du Pape wines made using only Syrah. 92 Pts
2016 Tour-Saint-Michel Châteauneuf-du-Pape – The entry level wine for Domaine Tour Saint Michel is a winner. The fruit is sweet, fresh and clean. The kirsch hangs out with you while you dig into the thyme, herbs and pepper notes that add their nuances. 93 Pts
2016 Tour-Saint-Michel du Lion – Dark in color, the nose offers up smoke, burnt charcoal and black cherry liqueur notes, Rich, ripe, lush and concentrated, the wine offers power, depth of flavor and layers of plush, sweet, ripe juicy, dark red fruits in the finish. The new oak used in the aging is already mostly integrated into the wealth of fruit. The wine is produced blending 75% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. 95 Pts
2016 Tour-Saint-Michel Feminessance – Deep in color, the wine is full bodied, round, fleshy and fresh. Ripe black cherry with peppery spice and herbs flows easily. Rich and concentrated, some bottle age will add more depth, softness and complexity to the wine. The wine was made from 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah. 94 Pts
2016 Tour-Saint-Michel Le Lien – Dark in color, the wine is silky, polished, fresh and vibrant. The fruit is elegant. Full bodied and deep, there is purity and symmetry in the layers of sweet, juicy, red fruit. The peppery, spicy kick in the end adds a lot to the wine. The wine is produced from 100% old vine Grenache. 97 Pts
2016 Tourbillon Vieilles Vignes – Medium bodied, forward,, sweet and fresh, this kirsch dominated charmer shows good fruit, texture and character. You can drink this on release, or age it for more complexity and nuance. The wine was made from 60% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, 7% Cinsault and 3% Muscardin. 93 Pts
2016 Pierre Usseglio Chateauneuf du Pape – Loads of herbs, pepper, underbrush, flowers and kirsch here. Silky, fresh, long and loaded with juicy kirsch, there is body and sweet fruits. You can drink this now, or give it a few years for more secondary notes to appear. The wine was made blending 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Cinsault and 5% Mourvedre. 92 Pts
2016 Pierre Usseglio Cuvee de mon Aieul – Produced from 100% old vine Grenache that is planted in 3 different terroirs. Every in this wine really works for the blend this year. Full bodied, deep, lush and opulent in character, the wine has concentration, length and freshness. The deep red berries offers sweetness and purity with gorgeous textures. This should age quite well. 98 Pts
2016 Pierre Usseglio Not For You – From 100% Old Vine Grenache, this is pure, bottled intensity. Extremely sweet and a bit jammy on in the nose, the packs 2 bottles of wine into 1. Thick, dense, full bodied and multi layered, the wine coats your mouth, teeth gums and palate. There is a purity of fruit that is impossible not to get. But there is also a massive wall of fruit that might not be for everyone, but I have to say, I was blown away! The wine reached a whopping 17.2% alcohol. There is a touch of heat, but there is so much fruit, you might not notice it. This unique expression of Chateauneuf du Pape is not for everyone. It is in the same style as the special cuvee from Henri Bonneau. 97 Pts
2016 Pierre Usseglio Reserve Des 2 Freres – Deep ruby in color the wine pops with black pepper, garrigue, plums, black cherry and kirsch. The wine is intense, concentrated and lush. The wine is no shy sister, coating your mouth and palate with layers of painted on dark, sweet spicy, fresh dark red fruits. The finish really stick with you with its sensuous textures for close to 60 seconds! This is just mind-blowing juice! The wine is made using 100% old vine Grenache. 100 Pts
2016 Vaudieu Avenue – Garrigue and smoky red fruits kick things off in the nose. On the palate, the concentrated, wine is loaded with silky, elegant, fresh, sweet, ripe, pure kirsch notes that hold on to their spicy accent. Made from 100% old vine Grenache, there is layers of sweet, fruits, depth, purity and freshness going on here that makes you want to take another sip. 98 Pts
2016 Vaudieu Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Spicy, fresh, black raspberries, herbs and bay leaf jump right up. On the palate, the wine is sweet, fresh and invigorating with loads of spicy, juicy, dark kirsch notes in the finish. 93 Pts
2016 Vaudieu Amiral G – Elegance, purity and finesse in character, the sweet red fruits are accompanied by Herbs de Provence, pepper, flowers and kirsch. The wine offers concentration, focus and freshness, finishing with sweet plums and black raspberry notes. There is weight, persistence and purity here. The wine is made from 100% old vine, Grenache planted in sandy soils not too far from Chateau Rayas. 97 Pts
2016 Vaudieu Val de Dieu – Rich, dense and intense, the ripe, spicy red berries, olives and garrigue get your attention quickly. Long, fresh, clean, refined and concentrated, the wine gets going quickly and stays with you. Purity, elegance, length and complexity are what you’ll find here. Give it a few years for the tannins to soften and allow things to come together and this should be an even better wine. The wine was made blending 64% Grenache and 28% Syrah with 8% Mourvedre. 97 Pts
2016 Vieille Julienne Les Hauts Lieux – Deep in color, the wine is floral with licorice, black cherry, wet earth, spice, animal, herbs and a hint of the clay and rocks. The wine meshes power with elegance. It’s difficult to pair refinement and power, but that’s what you find here. The finish blends licorice, pepper, dark, red pit fruits and sensuous textures that build with intensity. This is just great wine! The wine was produced from a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 10% Cinsault and 10% Counouise. 98 Pts
2016 Vieille Julienne Les Trois Sources – Deeply colored, the wine offers licorice, black cherry, plum and kirsch, with hints of fig, earth, herbs and spice. Exciting to taste the wine is rich, dense, opulent and fresh. The fruit is on the top spectrum of ripe, and yet it still holds freshness and vigor. The finish holds your interest and the fruit. This is the best vintage for Les Trois Sources yet. The wine was made from 60% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Cinsault and a myriad of various other allowable varieties. 97 Pts
2016 Vieille Julienne Reserve – The color is deep, purple blue. It’s almost opaque. The wine is off the charts. There is a beautiful purity of fruit. The melange of fruits runs from black to deep red. The wine is mouth coating. But it is also light on its feet. The finish is seamless, remaining with you for close to 60 seconds. This is another contender for the wine of the vintage, and that’s really saying something, considering how many stunning wines were produced this year. The wine is usually made from 90% Grenache, 5% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. Only 250 cases were produced of this stunner. So, if this seems like your thing, run, do not walk to the store and grab a few bottles. 100 Pts
2016 Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Garrigue, thyme and oceanic notes create the nose, before you begin getting into the ripe, peppery, red fruits. On the palate the wine is rich, lush, long and sings with a real depth of flavor that holds on through the long finish. Give it a few years in the cellar and it promises to be even better. The wine was made from a blend of 75% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah and 5% Cinsault. 95 Pts
2016 Villeneuve Les Vieilles Vignes – Deep in color, the wine offers concentration, freshness and lush textures. Silky ripe fruits, with salty tannins, black cherries and a creamy finish are what you’ll find in the end notes. The wine is produced with a preponderance of Grenache, along with other, allowable, assorted grape varieties. 94 Pts
