2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Val de Dieu

Showing good color, the floral, smoke filled wine provides the perfect amount of ripe, fresh, spicy red fruits on the nose and palate. Round, plush and silky, this should drink well with just a year or two of age. The wine was made blending 60% Grenache and 25% Syrah with 15% Mourvedre. 94 Points

Based on 66% Grenache, 24% Syrah, and the rest Mourvèdre, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Val de Dieu was brought up in a mix of demi-muids and 24% new barrels. This medium purple/plum-colored 2018 gives up a rich, meaty bouquet of ripe red and black fruits, spiced meats, dried Provençal herbs, and licorice. This is a ripe, powerful, medium to full-bodied 2018 that does everything right, offering a stacked mid-palate, sweet tannins, and a fabulous finish. You can drink this beauty any time over the next 12-15 years. Château de Vaudieu is located in the center of the Chateauneuf du Pape appellation, just south of Rayas. The estate is impeccably run by Laurent Bréchet with the winemaking falling to consultant Philippe Cambie. Today they release a number of special cuvees based largely on individual parcels around the domaine. The winemaking can be thought of as quasi-modern, with most of the wines destemmed and brought up in older barrels and demi-muids. New oak is kept to a minimum and the wines always show Provençal, elegant characters. In addition to the brilliant reds, this estate fashions some of the greatest whites in the appellation!

Only about 60% Grenache, the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Val de Dieu was matured in demi-muids, so there's a slight toasted-almond quality and hints of mocha and vanilla layered over the ripe cherry fruit. The oak is well managed, not overpowering at all, and it allows the red fruit and gentle herbal nuances to shine clearly through on the long, silky finish.