2011 Chateauneuf du Pape

Tasted in three components; Bonneau hinted that there may be only a single bottling from this vintage but it still has a long road of aging ahead of it and Bonneau never makes a final decision on which cuvees will be produced until almost the last minute. #1, from Pointu: Intense red fruit and mineral character, with excellent clarity and lift. #2, from Grandes Serres: more deeply pitched, with smoke-accented cherry and dark berry aromas and a hint of licorice. Chewy and precise, with good depth and a strong bitter cherry character. #3, from La Crau: Wild, highly perfumed aromas of candied red and dark fruits and garrigue. Juicy, palate-staining cherry and cassis flavors are enlivened by juicy acidity and show impressive energy and back-end punch. Bonneau said that "compared to La Crau, the others are petit Chateauneufs."

The classic 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape is a sexy, medium-bodied, sunny wine that’s loaded with notions of garrigue, kirsch, incense and fruit cake aromas and flavors. While I suspect it will be on a relatively fast evolutionary track, the fact is that these long elevage, which are the MO at this estate, result in a stable, age-worthy wine, even in forward, charming vintages such as 2011. Still, don’t hesitate to enjoy this in its youth. Oct 2016, www.robertparker.com