2018 Chateauneuf du Pape

Moving to the 2018s. the base 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape comes from vines all around the estate, which is located in the heart of Châteauneuf du Pape. It displays the forward, sexy style of the vintage and delivers loads of kirsch liqueur, Provençal herbs, licorice, and flowery incense aromas and flavors to go with a medium-bodied, silky style on the palate. As charming and gulpable as they come, it’s ideal for enjoying over the coming 10-12 years. The blend is 46% Grenache, 34% Syrah, and 20% Mourvèdre, brought up in old barrels and concrete tank. Château de Vaudieu is located in the center of the Chateauneuf du Pape appellation, just south of Rayas. The estate is impeccably run by Laurent Bréchet with the winemaking falling to consultant Philippe Cambie. Today they release a number of special cuvees based largely on individual parcels around the domaine. The winemaking can be thought of as quasi-modern, with most of the wines destemmed and brought up in older barrels and demi-muids. New oak is kept to a minimum and the wines always show Provençal, elegant characters. In addition to the brilliant reds, this estate fashions some of the greatest whites in the appellation!

Vaudieu's main cuvée, the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape, is about 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre. As usual, it's a ripe, lusty version of Châteauneuf, round and generous on the palate, with supple tannins. Black cherries pick up subtle herb and spice nuances on the softly dusty finish. It's a wine that gives pleasure now and should continue to do so for another decade.