2020 Chateauneuf du Pape

The 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of 60% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah and other permitted varieties. This 2020 opens with aromas of cooked red and black fruits, garrigue and licorice. Full-bodied, concentrated and built around a slightly coarse tannic structure, it ends with a savory finish. Although I’m not fully convinced by the tannins here, the 2020 does have the edge over the 2021.

Lots of ripe black fruits, chocolate, iron, and an almost marine-like character emerge from the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape, a big, burly effort that lacks elegance yet certainly brings fruit and richness. It will have 10-12 years of longevity. Consistently solid wines emerge from Domaine Roger Perrin, and I feel like the quality here has been on the upswing over the past 4-5 years. The 2020s are outstanding across the board, and the estate looks to have made terrific wines in 2021 as well.