2021 Chateauneuf du Pape Pure

The 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape Pure showed beautifully and is clearly up with the finest in the vintage. Ripe darker cherries, spring flowers, peppery garrigue, and some earthy, spicy nuances all shine, and it's medium-bodied, elegant, and seamless, with beautiful tannins. As with most of the top 2021s, it's all about finesse and elegance and is already impossible to resist. It should evolve for 10-12 years with no issues.

The 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape Pure—Grenache from a single parcel—boasts impressive aromatics of crushed stone, floral notes of roses and lavender and mixed berries. It's medium to full-bodied, concentrated, firm and tannic—perhaps overly so? In obvious need of cellaring, cautious buyers may wish to seek out the 2020 or hold out for the 2022, but I suspect the 2021 will come around in due time.

Showing the potential to be at the same level as the 2020 vintage, the 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Pure is a distinctively refined version of this cuvée. Coming in at 15% alcohol, precise aromas of rose petal, blood orange, redcurrant, raspberry, strawberry, licorice, dried herbs and a pinch of white pepper waft from the glass. The velvety tannins play a crucial role in shaping a seamless mouthfeel, while the elegant finish lingers on with great persistence. Only 5,000 bottles produced.