A gorgeous wine here, brimming with gently steeped plum, blackberry and açaí berry flavors, while fruitcake, black licorice and black tea notes swirl through. The terrific graphite underpinning keeps everything moving in unison through the finish, with focus and definition. Best from 2023 through 2038. — J.M.

I love the nose, there's a dusting of cocoa and a touch of kirsch to the aromas from the oak – all very well balanced and integrated. This is a powerful, concentrated and intense wine - more intense than their Tradition, but you feel the alcohol more, at least at this stage. Otherwise well balanced, with great energy, a good sense of freshness and tension. Will be very good now, and later. Biodynamically-grown Grenache (66%), Syrah (12%) and Mourvèdre (12%), the rest being made up of Clairette Rose, Cinsault, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Terret Noir, Picardan, Picpoul Blanc, Muscardin, Bourboulenc, Picpoul Noir, Vaccarèse, Roussanne, Picpoul Gris, Counoise and Clairette! They are grown across a variety of soil types in the lieux-dits Beau Renard, Cabrières and Coteau de l'Ange, vinified mostly in tronconic wooden vats, then aged in oak barrels of various sizes and ages, including 10% new oak. 70 to 100-year-old vines.

The more limited-production flagship cuvée is the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Boisrenard, which is based on two-thirds Grenache, with the balance mostly Syrah and Mourvèdre. Not far off the style of the classic cuvée, only deeper and richer, it has a smoking bouquet of ripe redcurrants, smoked blueberries, roasted garrigue, ground pepper, and scorched earth. Beautifully concentrated, medium to full-bodied, with building tannins and a great finish, this is one seriously good 2018. It’s worth giving it 2-3 years of bottle age then enjoying over the following 15 years or more.

Cedary overtones appear on the nose of the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Boisrenard, a portion of which is aged in new oak. That said, it's not overdone, with plenty of cola, plum and spice notes coming through on the full-bodied palate. Velvety and supple in the mouth, this seductive offering should drink well for a decade.- JC

With a touch of oak on the entry, the wine delivers plushly textured cherries, plums, herbs and spice on the nose and soft textured palate. The wine was made from a Grenache dominated blend that also utilizes old vine Mourvedre, Syrah and all the other allowable grape varieties in the appellation. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wine-tasting-note/?vintage=2018&wine=Domaine%20de%20Beaurenard%20(Paul%20Coulon%20et%20Fils)%20Chateauneuf-du-Pape%20Boisrenard

Deep violet. Expansive red berry liqueur, cherry pie, vanilla and potpourri aromas are complemented by hints of cola and botanical herbs. Broad and fleshy in style, offering deeply concentrated raspberry, boysenberry and bitter cherry flavors that take a sweeter turn on the back half. Slowly firms up with air and finishes with fine definition, suave, even tannins and superb, floral-driven persistence. -- Josh Raynolds