Ripe, luminous wild strawberries and black cherry flavors explode from nose to finish in this hedonistic, intensely fruity blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault. It’s gorgeously primary in youth with a zesty mineral undertone, but is concentrated enough to improve, gaining earthier complexities through 2030 and likely further.

Really impressive. Lemon, grilled peaches and green mangoes with chamomile and wild, mountain herbs in abundance. The palate is beautifully textured and packed with flavor. Strong and focused. Drink or hold. Winemaker Ralph Garcin vinifies the roussanne for this wine in 228-liter barrels and ages it on the lees, accounting for 30 percent of the blend; the rest of the wine (grenache blanc, clairette and bourboulenc) ferments in stainless-steel tanks. The result is a layered blend, its plump white fruit streamlined by a grapefruit acidity, with bass notes of mango and toasted oak adding depth. Firm, smoky and rich, this deserves another eight to ten years in the cellar to integrate and evolve.

The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape is a classic blend of close to equal parts Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, with a splash of Cinsault. Revealing a deep, saturated purple color as well as powerful notes of macerated cherries, blackberries, ground herbs, and chocolate, it's one of the richer, more opulent and powerful vintages of this cuvée in the past decade. Rich, full-bodied, and ripe, give it 2-4 years of bottle age.

The 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape features gentle herb shadings, ripe stone fruit and berry flavors, and a long, clean finish. It's full-bodied but somewhat delicate and silky in feel. I'd opt for drinking this blend of 35% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault over the next 7-8 years.