2016 Château Sixtine Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Château Sixtine is the finest vintage of this cuvée ever made, surpassing the 2003, 2007, and 2010. Deep purple/ruby-colored, with a full-bodied, deep, powerful bouquet of blackcurrants, ground pepper, crushed violets, and spice, it's full-bodied, has a voluptuous, powerful texture, sweet tannin, and a great, great finish, all while staying light and graceful. A blend of 50% Grenache and 25% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, it’s going to keep for two decades.

Sixtine continues to do a solid job with its flagship bottling. The 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape, a blend of 50% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre and 25% Syrah, delivers notes of apricot, cherries, leather and dried spices, ample palate presence and a lush, creamy texture. It finishes with hints of dried fruit and chocolate, so I'd opt for drinking it in its first decade while it retains some freshness.

Lurid ruby-red. Powerful red berry liqueur and Asian spice aromas open with air and pick up suggestions of succulent flowers and smoky minerals. Intense, palate-staining, appealingly sweet raspberry, cherry and floral pastille flavors are lifted and sharpened by a jolt of white pepper. At once vibrant and concentrated, finishing extremely long and delivering powerful red fruit thrust, supple tannins and lingering florality.