2015 Chateauneuf du Pape

Bright ruby. Potent aromas of ripe dark berries, licorice and candied flowers on the perfumed nose. Fleshy, seamless and broad on the palate, offering vivacious blackberry and cherry compote flavors sharpened by building spiciness and a jolt of smoky minerality. Closes on a smoky note, displaying smooth tannins, excellent persistence and a lingering violet flourish.

Les Bédines, Chapouin, Pignan (north), Valori. pH 3.6, TA 3.36 g/l. 3% Cinsault, 80% Grenache, 7% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah.. Destemmed. Vinified in stainless steel. 30% aged in stainless steel for six months, 70% aged for nine months in cement. Tasted blind. Blackish dense crimson. This smells as though a few years ago the maker may have been tempted by overripeness but not this year. Round and supple. Very hedonistic. Should make voluptuous old bones. (JR)

The 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape was tasted out of barrel and offers a full-bodied, mouth-filling, even sexy, style to go with ample amounts of plums, blueberries, violets and floral aromas and flavors. Count me a fan and this is a big, fruit-loaded beauty that will drink nicely for a decade or more.