2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Papet

The deeper hued 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Cuvée Du Papet checks in as a blend of 75% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah that saw plenty of stems and aging mostly in foudre, with a small part in demi-muids and barrique. Straight-up sensational notes of blackcurrants, ground pepper, garrigue, leather, and graphite emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a concentrated, dense, powerful mouthfeel, building tannins, and a brilliant finish. It's built for the long haul, and along with the 2016, it’s one of the finest wines I've tasted from this talented family. Hide bottles for 7-8 years and enjoy over the following 20-25+. Unfortunately, no 2020 reds were submitted for this report, but the 2019s here are both brilliant wines. If classic, old-school, yet clean and pure Châteauneuf is your thing, it doesn’t get much better than the 2019 Cuvée du Papet, and it’s going to be a real treat comparing the 2019 and 2016 over the coming 20 to 30 years.

Brilliant violet. A highly perfumed nose displays mineral- and spice-accented red and dark berries, licorice and a hint of potpourri. Sappy cherry, black raspberry and spicecake flavors show vibrant lift and take on floral pastille and botanical herb nuances as the wine opens up. In a lively style, finishing sweet, floral and extremely long, with fine-grained tannins adding final grip.