The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes is up with the crème de la crème of the vintage and in the same league as the perfect 2010. Awesome notes of blackberries, crème de cassis, charred meats, licorice, and violets all soar from the glass. It's powerful, opulent, and structured, with building tannin, a huge mid-palate, and a blockbuster finish, yet it never loses its sense of purity and elegance. It's an incredible achievement from this estate. The blend is 45% Grenache, 45% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah, all aged in 55% new French oak.

Ruby with ink in its hue, the wine is off the charts in the terms of concentration. Dense, mouth filling, long and intense, the wine coats every nook and cranny of your palate with layers of juicy, dark red fruits, spice, pepper and jam. The texture is akin to velvet. The fruit filled finish, with all its peppery goodness does not quit. The wine was made from blending 50% Grenache, 40% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah.98 Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/search-wine-tasting-notes/?szSearch=2016%20Grand%20Veneur%20Chateauneuf Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/search-wine-tasting-notes/?szSearch=2016%20Grand%20Veneur%20Chateauneuf

Showing a bit of development, Grand Veneur's 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes remains my benchmark vintage for this cuvée. The nose offers complex notes of mocha, black olives, red berries and hints of garrigue, while the full-bodied palate is rich, velvety and inviting. If one had to quibble, there's perhaps a touch of warmth showing on the finish, but this is a terrific wine by any measure and one that should drink well for at least another decade. - Joe Czerwinski

A remarkable combination of freshness, concentration and lightness of touch. Very long, with vivid aromatics and lovely balance. It's hard to fault really, but is painfully young at this stage. The tannins are grippy but fully ripe, the acidity is juicy and precise, and the fruit is concentrated. Impressive.

Crisp sun-kissed cherry and wild-­strawberry notes introduce this floral, perfumed wine. Made from predominantly old vines, it's intensely concentrated and forward in fruit yet shaded by hints of violet, lavender and bramble. This full-bodied, unctuous wine with fine, gripping tannins should improve through 2030 and hold further. — Anna Lee C. Iijima