2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve des Vieilles Vignes

A blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Vieilles Vignes is the more concentrated and powerful, with killer notes of black cherries, currants, garrigue, new leather, and graphite. As with the other wines here, it has good freshness, a powerful, concentrated style on the palate, good tannin, and plenty of length. Give it a few years.

All wood aged, with 30% of the barrels being new, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve des Vieilles Vignes is the biggest and plushest of the offerings from Roger Perrin, but it still exhibits some drying tannins on the finish. Cedar and vanilla notes frame raspberry and plum fruit in this ripe, warm blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre.

Limpid violet. Highly perfumed aromas of ripe red and blue fruits, potpourri, garrigue and smoky minerals show excellent clarity. Seamless in texture and alluringly sweet, offering intense black raspberry and lavender pastille flavors that coat the palate. Smooth, seamless and concentrated but lively as well, finishing with velvety, slow-building, persistent spice and mineral accents.