2015 Chateauneuf du Pape les Haut Lieux

The 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Haut Lieux comes from a higher elevation parcel and includes a decent amount of Mourvèdre. Harvest very late (this is a cooler terroir), it offers impressive notes of cassis, crushed rocked and violets. This square, structured, tannic effort has killer purity of fruit and an incredible elegance, yet needs time. Forget bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following 15+. I’ve said it many times, but I’ll say it again, there are few wines I’d rather have in my cellar, or on the table, than a Châteauneuf du Pape from Jean-Paul Daumen. The 2015s are beautiful wines and shine for their elegance and purity. They don’t have the sheer wealth of material found in vintages such as 2001, 2005, 2010, or 2016, yet has incredible elegance and purity, as well as balance. Jean-Paul commented that he’s never seen a vintage like 2016 and his wines are opulent and hedonistic, yet as with all the wines from this estate, has purity, elegance, and structure. They’re some of the greatest wines in the vintage.