- 97 points -

Fabulous nose of red fruits, summer flowers and licorice. The very complex interplay of huge fine tannins and richness reminds me of Grand Cru Burgundy, but this has a southerly personality. Great velvety finish that goes on and on. Doesn't want to stop. 80% grenache, 10% mourvedre and 10% cinsault. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification.

- 96 points -

Pure, concentrated flavors of black olives, dried herbs and blackberries amid an intensely floral and smoky aromatic core. Opulent on the palate, with added layers of violets, tea and flint. While approachable now with a proper decant, its intense drying tannins hint at cellaring well through 2030+ before revisiting, which should result in remarkable integration and greater complexity.

- 96 points -

Editor's Choice

Heady notes of violet candy and crème de cassis introduce this perfumed red sourced from a lieu-dit coplanted with Grenache, Mourvédre and Cinsault. Red-cherry and plum flavors are sun-drenched but pure, etched by crystalline veins of salt and crushed stone. It's delicious young but should improve through 2030 and hold longer still. Made from organic grapes.

- 94 points -

Bright violet. Intense raspberry and boysenberry scents show excellent clarity and take on suggestions of baking spices and candied flowers with air. Stains the palate with sweet, spice- and mineral-laced red and blue fruit preserve flavors that show very good depth as well as energy. The floral note recurs on the persistent finish, which features harmonious tannins and lingering red fruit character.

- 94 points -

This has an array of darker berry and plum fruits with a brambly, lightly spicy edge, too. The palate delivers impeccably fresh, lithe and detailed tannin texture, as well as blue fruit flavors. Juicy and energetic. Long finish.

- 94 points -

The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Le Pied De Baud offers a deeper purple/ruby hue as well as a ripe, more up-front bouquet of red and blue fruits, ground pepper, violets, and more minerality, which comes through more on the palate. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and structured, give bottles a few years and enjoy over the following decade or more. This cuvée comes from the pebbly soils of the Pied de Baud lieu-dit, was partially destemmed, and is 80% Grenache and 10% each of Cinsault and Mourvèdre.

- 93 points -

Nicely expressive, with an open and inviting array of warmed raspberry and plum reduction notes, while red tea, anise and fruitcake hints fill in the background. Stays silky in feel, with just a twinge of bramble for a nice textural contrast, ending with an encore of friendly fruit. Grenache, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Drink now through 2036. 366 cases made, 19 cases imported.

(91-93) POINTS

Deep ruby. Ripe dark berry and licorice aromas are complicated by suggestions of smoky minerals, garrigue and lavender, and a subtle hint of peppery spices emerges with air. Juicy and deeply concentrated yet energetic as well, offering sweet blackberry, cherry cola and violet pastille flavors and a refreshing jolt of minerality. The long, sappy finish features resonating florality and velvety tannins that fold steadily into the clinging, appealingly sweet fruit.