This has good concentration and energy to the dense core of dark fruit and bitter cherry, with great poise and elegance despite its ripeness (an impressive feat for the vintage). Guided by finely crushed mineral accents and tannins, this reveals pretty high-toned floral notes and leafy tobacco. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Vaccarèse and Muscardin. Drink now through 2032. 900 cases made.

More garrigue, Provençal herbs, pepper, and ripe framboise and cherry notes all emerge from the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes, another beautiful 2021 from this estate that has a gorgeous sense of purity and elegance.

A blend for the American importer, the 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is always pretty much the same assemblage as the regular bottling but with a higher proportion of old-vine Grenache. In this year, that means more black cherries in the mix and a bit more tannin heft. It still boasts some red berry notes as well. Full-bodied and velvety, it's a terrific effort that provides solid value and should provide solid drinking for the next decade. - JC

The 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes is slightly more layered than the traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape. A well-crafted powerhouse, it displays strawberry, raspberry, cranberry and licorice paired with dried herbs and minty undertones. This fruit-driven 2021 red is fresher and less overtly flamboyant than the 2020 or 2019 rendition, which amplifies its elegance.