This bottle of the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Chante le Merle Vieilles Vignes was singing at full and amazingly youthful voice this June. Black cherry fruit dominated the nose of this big, rich, tannic beast, which still has years ahead of it. Full-bodied and velvety, with a long, concentrated finish, I could see it aging through 2030. - Joe Czerwinski

The densest and most tannic of the barrel samples the 2009 Bosquet des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Chante Le Merle Vieilles Vignes is a blend of 80% Grenache 10% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre that has 100% stem inclusion and is aged in large oak barrels and new demi-muids for 12 to 18 months. The wine sports loads of spicy Grenache fruit that's backed up by licorice and garrigue medium to full body and a structured firm long personality. This should be cellared for 3 to 5 years and then drunk over the following decade or longer.