Another best to date, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Cuvée du Papet from Thierry Sabon is pure perfection in a glass. More powerful than the classic cuvée, with killer black raspberries, crushed rocks, garrigue, salty minerality, and iodine, it's deep, full-bodied, concentrated, and sexy, yet has building tannin. It's one of those “iron fist in a velvet glove” wines and continued to gain depth and richness every time I went back to the glass. Old-school, traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape doesn’t get any better, and readers should beg, borrow or steal to get a hold of this. Hide bottles for 4-5 years (or more), count yourself lucky, and enjoy bottles over the following 2-3 decades.

Flowers, pepper, black raspberry and kirsch are in your face. Full bodied, soft and polished, the wine is opulent, rich, full bodied, sweet and pure. There is a wealth of fruit here that fills your palate. The fruit is pure and refined, with silky tannins in the finish. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wine-tasting-note/?vintage=2016&wine=Clos%20du%20Mont-Olivet%20Chateauneuf-du-Pape%20La%20Cuvee%20du%20Papet

Pristine black cherry and mulberry flavors are contrasted by savory hints of dried porcini and wild game in this wine. It's full bodied and unctuous but structured by firm, gripping tannins. The finish is long and dramatic, edged by notes of sage, anise and pepper. This luxurious but nuanced wine is approachable already but will improve through 2030, likely further. - ANNA LEE C. IIJIMA

The 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape La Cuvee du Papet is a blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah, with much of the Grenache being 100+ years old. It's dark and plummy but still marked by attractive florals on the nose. Full-bodied, creamy textured and plush, it's weighty and rich, with great richness and length on the finish. Remarkably, despite reaching 15.8% alcohol, it shows no heat on the palate. - Joe Czerwinski