2016 Cotes du Rhone Villages Terre d'Argile

Bottled in March of this year, the 2016 Côtes du Rhône villages Terre D'Argile sports a deep purple color as well as a fresh, elegant, classy style in its cassis, crushed violets, spice, and mineral. It's full-bodied, has beautiful purity, fine tannins, and a pure, clean, straight style. It's going to age gracefully as well. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better run estate than that of Domaine de Janasse, which has been in the Sabon family since 1967. Today it’s the brother and sister pair of Christophe and Isabelle Sabon at the helm, and they continue to produce a bevy of sensational Côtes du Rhônes and Châteauneuf du Papes from their vines in the northeastern region of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and around the village of Courthézon. While they’ve pulled back on the pedal-to-the-metal style of the early and mid-2000s, their wines today offer more purity, precision, and elegance while still possessing ample hedonistic fireworks. In short, these are brilliant wines that readers need to snatch up.