Impressive, complex array of wild cherries, raspberries, garrigue herbs, lightly spiced pastry and stony, chalky minerals. Super-fresh florals. The palate has superb texture, roundness, completeness, depth and detail. Powerful yet elegant with powdery tannins and essence-like red fruit. Super-fleshy, supple and dense core, then strong at the edges. Layer upon layer peels away on the finish. Resounding finesse and equilibrium, showing the full potential of the plateau La Crau. Drink or hold.

Bottled just last week, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape offers a classic, gorgeous bouquet of black raspberries, currants, violets, salty minerality, nori (seaweed wrapper) and licorice. Full-bodied, pure, incredibly elegant, with fine tannin, and a huge finish, this is classic Vieux Télégraphe all the way that has the balance to drink now.

One of the best vintages of the domaine – 'if you were to pull out five since 1960, the 2016 would be among them,' says winemaker and owner Daniel Brunier. Very immediate and open with blueberry, violet and Griotte cherry. Full and lush in texture with a very fine tannic structure and lovely acidity too. The alcohol is present, but it's balanced for Châteauneuf. Very harmonious, with great depth and will be fantastic when it's ready.

Quite floral in nature, from there you find thyme, garrigue and a plethora of fresh red fruits. Elegant, with ample weight and lift, the finish hits you with its mix of earth, herbs and kirsch with a hint of salty rocks in the endnote. Hang on this for 5-8 years and you'll have a beauty in your cellar. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wine-tasting-note/?vintage=2016&wine=Domaine%20du%20Vieux%20Telegraphe%20Chateauneuf-du-Pape%20La%20Crau

Undoubtedly one of the top vintages of this wine, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape La Crau features classy notes of crushed stones and black tea to go along with ripe raspberries and black cherries. Full-bodied yet silky, there's more power and richness in La Crau than in Piedlong, yet there's commensurate elegance and finesse. The wine grows in intensity on the finish without ever seeming heavy or overripe, instead offering hints of tea and licorice. - Joe Czerwinski