2010 Domaine Galevan Châteauneuf-du-Pape Saint-Georges

The 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape St.-Georges possesses magnificent fruit in addition to a skyscraper-like mouthfeel, majestic richness, a layered texture, phenomenal purity and a classic style displaying plenty of bouquet garni, licorice, seaweed, cassis and kirsch characteristics. This sensational 2010 is soft enough to be drunk now, but will be even better with 2-3 years of cellaring. It should last for two decades. A microscopic estate owned by Coralie Goumarre, Domaine Galevan was established, remarkably, in 1780, but the first estate-bottled wine did not emerge until 1968. I was blown away by these four red wine cuvees, and both of the 2010s have jumped dramatically in score since I tasted them from barrel last year. Coralie Goumarre has consistently made some of the better Cotes du Rhones over recent vintages. Both her 2011s represent sleepers of the vintage. Importer: Vintage Imports, Bristol, PA; tel. (215) 788-1300

Dark, lustrous crimson. Big, ripe, bumptious wine chock full of blackberry fruit. Drawn tightly together on the finish. Slightly animal on the end. This delivers. (JR)