2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes

Precise aromas of ripe red cherry, raspberry, wild strawberry, licorice, dried herbs and cured meat introduce the 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes. An expressive wine of mindboggling intensity and concentration, it is enveloped in a firm tannic structure and perfectly balanced by lively acidity. The complex finish goes on for well over a minute.

The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes comes from the famed La Crau lieu-dit and is 90% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre that was brought up mostly in tronconique tanks, with 15% in demi-muids. Killer notes of black raspberries, redcurrants, peppery herbs, and loamy earth all emerge on the nose, and this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a supple, seamless, remarkably pure mouthfeel, no hard edges, and a great finish. This cuvée always has the most tannins of all the releases and benefits from a few years in the cellar. If you love impeccably made, sexy, yet classic Châteauneuf du Pape, you should buy this.

The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes comes all from the famed La Crau lieu-dit and is 90% Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre that was brought up in a mix of demi-muids, tronconique tanks, and stainless steel. Awesome black cherry and currant fruits as well as licorice, roasted herbs, and peppery, meaty notes define this gorgeous 2020, and it's full-bodied, with wonderful purity of fruit, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's wonderfully done and should rank with the crème de la crème of the vintage. While I’ve always loved the wines of Domaine de la Charbonnière, recent vintages are on another level, and I’d unquestionably put the domaine up with the crème de la crème of the appellation today. Run by the Maret family, with consulting advice from Philippe Cambie, Domaine de La Charbonnière produces four cuvées: the Tradition, Mourre des Perdrix, Vieilles Vignes, and the Les Hautes Brusquières. The traditional cuvée comes from all the estate’s holdings and is typically a blend of 70% Grenache and 15% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre. It’s mostly destemmed and brought up in older barrels and stainless steel. It’s certain a terrific introduction into the style of the estate. The Mourre des Perdrix comes from more sandy soils just behind the estate and is the same blend as the classic cuvée. This cuvée is always the most seamless and elegant in the lineup. The Vieilles Vignes comes from the oldest vines of the estate and the pebbly soils of the La Crau lieu-dit. Based on 95% Grenache or more, with the balance Mourvèdre, it’s always the most structured, tannic, and masculine of the three special cuvées. Lastly, the Les Hautes Brusquières comes from the Brusquières plateau in the northern portion of the appellation and is a 60/40 split of Grenache and Syrah that’s destemmed and aged in a mix of foudre and barrels. This cuvée is generally the most opulent and full-bodied in the lineup (no doubt due to its large Syrah component), and while approachable in its youth, it’s capable of keeping for upward of two decades.