Even better (as well as a perfect wine), the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Collection Charles Giraud checks in as a nominal blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre that was brought up in demi-muids. It reveals a deep purple color as well as heavenly notes of blackberry and currant fruits intermixed with loads of cured meats, spice box, Asian spices, and a distinct loamy soil and minerality. Always more structured and powerful than the Reserve Auguste Favier release (no doubt due to the Mourvèdre component), it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, building yet polished tannins, flawless balance, and a great, great finish. Pure perfection in a glass, it’s as good as wine gets. Give bottles 2-4 years and enjoy over the following two decades. Hats off to winemaker Isabelle Ferrando for yet another thrilling wine!

Luscious, peppery, fresh, sweet ripe dark, pure red berries are all over the place. The wine is juicy, fresh and intense. You find length, purity and energy. The black raspberries and peppery cherries just keep on going in the end note. The wine was made blending 60% old vine Grenache with 40% Mourvedre. This stunner is one of the wines of the vintage! Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wine-tasting-note/?vintage=2017&wine=Domaine%20Saint%20Prefert%20Chateauneuf-du-Pape%20Collection%20Charles%20Giraud

Full-bodied, richly concentrated and velvety-textured, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Collection Charles Giraud is one of the top wines of the vintage. A blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre, it offers up seductive notes of dried spices and cola, plus plenty of plummy fruit. It's lush and long on the finish, folding in hints of clove, allspice and star anise. Nearly approachable now, it should cellar well through 2035.- JC

Sourced from the oldest vines in the domaine, the Charles Giraud is the flagship bottling of Saint-Préfert. A 60-40 blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre accented by a whisper of clove, it's a voluminous, dazzling wine packed with sun-kissed cherry and raspberry flavors. Fresh in acidity and held upright by fine, taut tannins, it's opulent but not at all dense or weighty. An immediately enjoyable wine that's concentrated enough to improve through 2027 and hold longer still. ANNA LEE C. IIJIMA

Packed with dark plum, blackberry and boysenberry compote flavors and backed by lively bramble, anise and fruitcake notes, this cruises through the grippy, tar-edged finish. Shows lots of stuffing, so cellar for maximum effect. Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. Best from 2023 through 2038. 1,000 cases made, 200 cases imported. — JM