2012 Chateauneuf du Pape

Rich and round and spicy – much riper than anything tasted from 2014. Polished tannins again. Very spicy. But with a certain polish. (JR)

Bright ruby-red. Intense, spice-laced cherry and dark berries on the fragrant nose, with notes of licorice, spicecake and lavender adding complexity. Silky, expansive blackberry, cherry compote and succulent herb flavors become firmer and spicier with air, picking up notes of white pepper and allspice. Finishes silky and very long, with superb clarity and supple tannins. This gets my vote as the best "basic" Châteauneuf bottling of the vintage.

A wine that performed better from barrel than bottle, the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape is still an outstanding effort. Made from tiny yields and a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 7% Syrah and 3% Cinsault, it exhibits classy black cherry, damp underbrush, truffle and hints of herbs in a medium-bodied, fresh and seamless profile. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years.