2016 Domaine Durieu Châteauneuf-du-Pape Lucile Avril

The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Lucile Avril is mostly old vine Grenache mixed with roughly 10% Syrah and Mourvèdre. It's another deeply colored effort from this estate that has classic notes of bouquet garni, sweet red and black fruits, new saddle leather, and assorted spicy nuances. It's deep, concentrated, balanced, and has a great finish, and is a no-brainer purchase that’s going to keep for 15+ years. These consistently outstanding, Provençalwines come from the young Vincent Durieu. While I wasn’t able to taste any 2017s, his 2016s are Do Not Miss wines. This terrific estate is inching its way into the crème de la crème of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

A selection of 90-year-old Grenache (85% of the blend), 60-year-old Mourvèdre (10%) and 5% Syrah, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Lucile Avril boasts a bit more concentration and richness than the traditional bottling. It shows great old-vine Grenache stone fruit notes, plus hints of clove, pepper and licorice on the finish. Full-bodied and velvety in texture, it's approachable now but should age for 10+ years.

Vivid ruby-red. Intensely perfumed red berry and lavender aromas are complicated by suggestions of incense and woodsmoke. Powerful, expansive raspberry compote and spicecake flavors show very good depth and clarity and pick up a smoky nuance as the wine opens up. Finishes sweet, subtly tannic and impressively long, leaving behind suave red fruit liqueur and peppery spice notes.