2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Hautes Garrigues

Comprising of the estate's oldest vines—a mix of Grenache and Mourvèdre from the le plateau in front of the village—the 2017 Gigondas Les Hautes Garrigues features subtle hints of smoke and crushed stone on the nose alongside scents of dark plums and black cherries. It's firm and full-bodied, with the ripe tannins and concentrated fruit to support over a decade of aging, plus a long, intense finish that adds hints of star anise and cracked pepper.

Brilliant magenta. Highly perfumed aromas of ripe red/blue fruits, exotic spices and incense, along with a smoky mineral nuance that builds as the wine opens up. Smooth and seamless in texture, offering palate-staining raspberry and cherry pie, spicecake and lavender pastille flavors that convey a suave blend of power and finesse. Finishes sweet, gently tannic and extremely long, leaving behind exotic star anise and floral notes.

65% Grenache, 35% Mourvèdre. Cask sample. Tasted blind. Raspberry, redcurrant, fairly simple in flavour range but with good purity and definition. Moderate length and neatly tucked-in tannins. Warm finish is a little out of balance. (RH)