NV Chateauneuf du Pape La Reserve XV XVI XVII

Xavier Vignon makes the only multi-vintage wine in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. He tastes thousands of wines, selecting his favourite parcels to craft his La Réserve cuvée, with Roman numerals indicating the vintages included. The latest release – XV XVI XVII – is mainly from the outstanding 2016 vintage (with 76% of the blend), with 14% from 2017, 8% 2015 and a final 2% of older reserve wines, from over 100 different parcels of Châteauneuf. The La Réserve has a fantastic nose with plenty going on. The dried strawberry and redcurrant fruit mingles beautifully with the more savoury, fresh leather and gamey aromas. A touch of plum sauce and plenty of peppery spice makes this surprisingly complex on the nose. The palate is beautifully balanced, the tannins supple and seamless, bringing lovely breadth to the wine. The mid-palate is luscious and rich without being at all heavy. But what really stands out is the freshness that comes from both the acidity and the salinity on the palate – it is so mouth-watering and refreshing for a Châteauneuf. There is a gorgeous creaminess to the tannins and the clarity of strawberry fruit and pepper spice on the long finish is excellent. At this price point, the complexity and balance is impressive.