2016 IGP Vaucluse Rouge

As to the red, the 2016 Vaucluse reminded me of the 2007 with its incredible opulence, sweetness of fruit, and flamboyant style. Awesome black raspberry and strawberry fruit characteristics all intermix with notes of incense, white and black pepper, fruit cake, plums, garrigue, and Asian spices on the nose. Full-bodied, deep, and concentrated on the palate, it doesn’t pull any punches and the sweet fruit scale (I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a kiss of residual sugar here), yet has beautiful purity, no hard edges, and a fabulous, clean, dry finish. It took plenty of air to show at its best and will benefit from just short-term cellaring. It’s one of the sexiest wines in the vintage and will keep for a decade.