2010 Chateauneuf du Pape

A blend of two-thirds Grenache and the rest mostly Syrah and Mourvedre with a touch of Cinsault from 60-old-vines, all aged in old wood foudres, the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape is deep and full-bodied. One of the great buys of the vintage, it exhibits an opaque ruby/purple color as well as abundant notes of black raspberries, incense, Asian plum sauce, garrigue and licorice. With stunning concentration and purity, a full-bodied texture and a long finish, it still has some tannins to shed, so give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 15-20. Proprietor Claude Chastan, one of the many gentleman farmers of the appellation with a no-nonsense attitude, owns around 35 acres, all of it in the highly regarded lieux-dits of Cabrieres and Palestor in the northwestern sector of Chateauneuf du Pape. This estate’s history goes back to the late 1800s, and my experience indicates they have been producing their finest wines over the last ten years. Various American importers, including J A O Wine Imports, McLean, VA; tel. (703) 848-2473; European Wine Import, Cleveland, OH; tel. (216) 426-0980, and Vintage Wine Marketing, Napa, CA; www.vintagewinemarketing.com

(65% grenache, 15% each of mourvedre and syrah and 5% cinsault, all raised in foudres): Vivid ruby. Bright, mineral-driven aromas of red berries, olive, spicecake and dried flowers. Sweet red fruit flavors are lifted by lively blood orange and white pepper nuances and firmed by silky tannins. Focused, brisk Chateauneuf with a gently sweet quality to the finish.

Certified organic. Palestor, Cabrières 65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre, 5% Cinsault. 12 months in foudre. 30,000 bottles. Dark crimson. This looks particularly ‘thick’. Light, lifted nose. Lots of ripe fruit and a heavy cloak of fine tannins. Notably dense and very embryonic indeed. But this promises well. (JR)