2017 Chateauneuf du Pape

I loved the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape from barrel and it showed well from bottle, with beautiful black cherries, ground herbs, earthy minerality, and a hint of violets. Rich, medium to full-bodied, concentrated, with fine tannins, this is straight-up classic, well-made Châteauneuf Du Pape to drink over the coming 10-15 years. The blend is 70% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, and the balance Cinsault and Clairette, brought up in a mix of stainless steel, old barrels, foudre, and a tiny amount (6%) in new oak. This larger estate is run today by Xavier Perrin and the quality appears to be on the uptick.

The full-bodied 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape is a blend of 70% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, 3% Cinsault and 2% Clairette. Aged in a mix of barrels, foudres and tanks, it shows hints of cedar and vanilla on the nose, plus peppery spice and milk-chocolate flavors that finish on a tannic, astringent note.

70% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, 3% Cinsault, 2% Clairette. Tasted blind. Baked black fruit, clove spice and cherry fruit. Firmly tannic palate with liquorice and olive on the finish keeping things savoury. Moderate length. Good typicality, but fairly limited complexity. (RH)