(JD 98-100 points) The finest vintage of this cuvée I've ever tasted (and I've had all of them), the 2016 La Clape Porte du Ciel is about as inky black colored as a moonless night and boasts an exotic bouquet of blackcurrants, black olives, crushed rocks, and wood smoke. Deep, incredibly full-bodied, and concentrated, it still stays light and elegant on the palate, with no sensation of weight or heaviness. It's an incredible barrel sample that's going to benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for two decades. As always, it’s a singular, world-class wine.

Bottled just a month before my visit, the 2016 La Clape la Porte du Ciel looks even more impressive than it did from barrel. The warmth I noted last year has seemingly been absorbed into this huge, inky-purple wine. Pencil shavings accent classic Syrah notes of licorice, blackberries and grilled meat on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is supple and velvety, and blueberries and plums emerge on the long finish. Give it a couple of years if you have patience, and drink it over the next 15+ years. - Joe Czerwinski