2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Sixtine

Medium bodied, with a salty accent to the garrigue dusted, crisp, red fruits. This should drink well young. The wine is made using 65% Grenache , 25% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre .

The classic cuvée is the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée du Vatican, which checks in as 65% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre brought up mostly in concrete tanks. Deep purple-colored with a terrific bouquet of black raspberries, cassis, crushed flowers, and spice, this full-bodied effort has sweet tannin, a rounded, voluptuous style, and a great finish. It's more upfront and charming than the more backward Chateau Sixtine Cuvée and is ideal for drinking over the coming decade.

I was perplexed by the grip and austerity shown by this cuvée. The 2016 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Du Vatican is full-bodied, with decent concentration, but it's also prickly and tannic, with pepper-dusted cherry fruit that dries out a bit on the finish.