Two high-altitude single vineyards: one of Grenache, one Syrah. The wine spends 18 months in barrel, with 50% new oak. Tightly wound aromatics, well-integrated oak. It’s generous, with supple, intense tannins and piercing acidity. Highly concentrated but not overextracted; powerful and vivid. Will impress – but needs time.

Made from equal parts Syrah and Grenache, the 2016 Ventoux Cuvee Artemia is another terrific vintage for this cuvee. Still young, backward and unevolved, it has tons of potential in its blue fruits, graphite, crushed rock and violet-tinged aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, with terrific purity of fruit, and fine, building tannin, it needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will keep for a decade or more.

A 50-50 blend of Grenache and Syrah, aged in 50% new oak, the 2016 Ventoux Artemia is a tremendous effort. It combines blueberries and stone fruit with cedary notes and then underscores those attractive aromas and flavors with a full-bodied, velvety texture and a bright, crisp finish. Lovely stuff.- JC

Artemia is Pesquié's prestige bottling sourced from Grenache and Syrah grown at high elevations and aged in 50% new oak. Ripe and opulent it juxtaposes fleshy black fruit against layers of olive, charcuterie and smoke. Concentrated yet elegant and silky, it drinks well already but should improve through 2026 and hold further. ANNA LEE C. IIJIMA