2020 Chateauneuf du Pape

Readers looking for a classic, incredibly satisfying wine that should keep for a decade should jump on the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape from Olivier Hillaire. Mostly Grenache with 10% Syrah, it has textbook notes of ripe blackberries, black cherries, peppery herbs, and loamy earth. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a charming, forward style, soft tannins, and is already impossible to resist. I continue to love the wines of Olivier Hillaire. These are always ripe, seamless, sexy wines that are just about overflowing with Provençal character.

90% Grenache, 10% Syrah. Aged 12 months in old barrels. Cask sample. Light crimson hue. Jammy red fruit with a slight herbal note. Sweet-fruited on the palate with firm but slightly chewy tannins. Traditional in style. Fresh but a little short on the finish. (JL)