2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee

Lastly, the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve it unquestionably one of the wines of the vintage. Offering incredible spice, violets, roasted meats, black licorice, cassis and incense, this full-bodied beauty is as ethereal and elegant as they come, yet packs huge amounts of intensity, depth, and length in its perfectly balanced personality. Possessing ultra-fine tannin, a layered mid-palate and a great finish, it’s surprisingly already accessible but will cruise for two decades given its balance and purity. I can’t think of another vintage from Jean-Paul that shows this style of elegance and finesse. 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.

The deep, dark color is a warmup for all the rich, dark, red fruits that are on their way. This could be the most concentrated wine in 2015. The wine is powerful, ripe, and dense. The wealth of fruit here is incredible. But don\'t let the layers of fruit scare you away. Everything is in balance and harmony here. Long in the mouth, the wine just keeps on going for perhaps 50 seconds! This is a compelling Chateauneuf du Pape that can age for decades. The wine is made from 90% Grenache, 5% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. 98 Points

Lurid ruby-red. A highly perfumed, expansive bouquet evokes ripe dark berries, cherry pit, licorice, garrigue and smoky Indian spices. Shows superb concentration as well as energy, offering vivacious black raspberry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors and a suave floral pastille undertone. Becomes sweeter with air and finishes on a youthfully tannic note, delivering impressive focus, a touch of dark chocolate and emphatic dark fruit thrust.