Charvin Chateauneuf du Pape 2016 (750ML)

97 JD / 96 VM / 95 DE

Cut from the same cloth as the 2017, only broader and more expansive, the 2016 Châteauneuf Du Pape ranks with the finest vintages ever produced from this estate. Deep purple-colored with a sensational bouquet of blackberries, currants, ground pepper, crushed violets, and Asian spices, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimension texture, incredible elegance, sweet tannins, and a great, great finish. It’s a thrilling wine from a great winemaker. Drink it any time over the coming 20-25 years.--Jeb Dunnuck

Deep bright-rimmed red. An expansive, highly complex bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, candied flowers, exotic spices and minerals, and a subtle garrigue nuance emerges with aeration. Sweet, seamless and broad on the palate, offering intense Chambord, cherry pastry, star anise and candied lavender flavors that show superb delineation and back-end lift. In a distinctly suave style, as is usual for this domaine, with an added measure of richness thanks to the vintage. Round, even tannins lend gentle grip to an extremely long, red-fruit- and floral-dominated finish that shows zero rough edges.-- Josh Raynolds--Josh Raynolds, Vinous Media

No Cuvée Spéciale produced in 2016, just one wine, fermented and aged in concrete for 21 months. Orange peel and black olives on the nose lead into a powerful, juicy, concentrated palate with real thrust. There's real detail and power, and it's all very well balanced with super-fine tannins and a saline finish. Very long and intense. Certified organic.Drinking Window 2024 - 2034.--Matt Walls, Decanter