2020 Chateauneuf du Pape La Dame Voyageuse

The Grenache-dominated 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Dame Voyageuse is another winner, and while this is billed as a forward, base cuvée, don't let that fool you – it's a brilliant Châteauneuf du Pape (that often represents an incredible value). A blend of 90% Grenache and small amounts of Syrah, Mourvedre, Vaccarese, and Counoise, its deeper ruby hue is followed by a beautiful array of black raspberry and mulled cherry fruits as well as Provençal garrigue, sandalwood, and spice. Medium to full-bodied, seamless, elegant, and perfectly balanced, it shows the charming, elegant, layered style of this vintage beautifully. Looking at the vintages reviewed here, the estate compared 2020 to a mix of 2019 and 2018, commenting that their 2020s were less concentrated than their 2019s, which I wholeheartedly agree with, although I feel their 2020s still have plenty of structure. The 2021s show the fresher style of the vintage but don’t lack ripeness and have plenty of texture. As usual, all of these wines are impeccably made and worth seeking out.

Bright violet. Primary red and dark berry and garrigue scents are complemented by licorice and white pepper flourishes. Appealingly sweet and open-knit, offering energetic raspberry, cherry cola and lavender pastille flavors that tighten steadily with aeration. Shows fine clarity and spicy cut on a long, penetrating finish that's given shape by subtly chewy tannins.