Domaine de la Charbonniere CdP Les Hautes Brusquieres Cuvee Speciale 2020 (750ML)

96 VM / 96 JS / 95 WS / 94-96 JD

2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Spéciale Les Hautes Brusquières Producer: Domaine de la Charbonnière Color: Red Nicolas Greinacher, April 2023 Drinking Window: 2026 - 2045 96 Pungent aromas of blood orange, raspberry liqueur, strawberry, black cherry, garrigue and licorice introduce the 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Spéciale Les Hautes Brusquières. This single vineyard cuvée comes from the Brusquières plot, located in the north of the appellation. It is a deep, full-bodied red with head spinning concentration, perfectly balanced by lively acidity with a persistent finish. If you are lucky enough to own a bottle or two, there’s no need to hurry as this elixir can age for a long time.--NG, Vinous Media

An extremely concentrated and refined Chateauneuf that presses all the pleasure buttons, yet remains subtle. Breathtaking energy at the very long finish. Listing all the aromas would take too long, but there’s a slew of red fruits, Mediterranean herbs and a touch of candied citrus in there. Great touch and texture on the mid-palate, harmonious and vibrant. Expanding and ample long finish. A cuvee of 60% grenache and 40% syrah. Drink or hold. - James Suckling

There's impressive range and depth to the plum paste and bitter cherry flavors in this red, woven with earth, warm spices and charred apple wood smoke. The palate shows power and concentration, yet hums with mineral energy and salty black licorice undertones. Big-boned and harmonious through the deftly built finish. Grenache, Syrah and Counoise. Drink now through 2032. —K.B., Wine Spectator

The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Les Hautes Brusquieres includes the most Syrah of any of the releases here (60% Grenache and 40% Syrah) and is sourced from a cooler terroir in the northwestern portion of the appellation. It's another remarkable effort revealing a gorgeous perfume of red, blue, and black fruits as well as ground pepper, smoked earth, and violets. As with the other releases, it's full-bodied and seamless on the palate, with impressive tannins. Give it just a few years of bottle age. - Jeb Dunnuck