2010 Chateauneuf du Pape

The best value from this estate is the sensational 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape, a blend of 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 15% Mourvedre from 50-year-old vines aged in concrete tank as well as old wood foudres. Copious aromas of garrigue, seaweed, ground pepper, creme de cassis and kirsch jump from the glass of this opaque ruby/purple-colored, full-bodied, multidimensional, rich, pure 2010. Drink it over the next 10-15 years. This tiny 22-acre estate situated in the northern tier of Chateauneuf du Pape was founded in 1950, but has been brought to brilliance by Chaussy family over the last decade. Daniel Chaussy deserves enormous credit for introducing the spectacular Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee du Quet as well as the Chateauneuf du Pape Le Tintot, which is 100% Mourvedre. Both the 2007 and 2010 Cuvee du Quet have garnered perfect scores, and the latter wine may be the wine of the vintage. Sadly, only 5,000 bottles are produced of this extraordinary blend of 80% Grenache (aged in neutral tanks) and 20% Mourvedre (aged in small oak casks). Importer: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173

A knockout traditional cuvee, the 2010 Mas de Boislauzon Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, and 5% Syrah that is aged half in tank and half in barrel. It is beautifully perfumed and complex on the nose, with aromas of incense, spiced meats, flowers, and raspberry and blackberry liqueur-like aromas all souring from the glass. This is followed up by a full-bodied, structured, and tannic wine that has a rock solid core of fruit, loads of texture, and fantastic focus, detail, and length on the finish. Give bottles 2-3 years in the cellar, and then enjoy over the following decade.