Kirsch liqueur, darker berries, new leather, ground pepper, and sweet garrigue all shine in the 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Combes Des Fous, which shows the pure, focused, more elegant style of the vintage. It’s full-bodied, with ripe, polished tannins, flawless balance, beautiful mid-palate depth, and a gorgeous finish.

The 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Combe des Fous is not to be missed. Hauntingly floral, it launches with radiant orange blossom, rose petal and crushed violets, mingling with wild strawberries, incense and garrigue. Gently enveloped in velvety tannins, the 2022 is a seductive and explosive La Combe des Fous. It packs spot-on balance and cruises at the same high altitude as the brilliant 2019. -- Nicolas Greinacher