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...

This is beautifully rendered, with a core of focused red currant, plum and raspberry coulis flavors that stretches out nicely while flecks of tobacco, bergamot, and singed sandalwood weave around. A bolt of iron...

Transparent yellow. Smoky, mineral-accented citrus and orchard fruits on the nose, along with a suave floral nuance and a touch of iodine. Sappy, concentrated and lively on the palate, offering pear liqueur, tangerine...