2021 Chateauneuf du Pape

The flagship from this estate, the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape Château Sixtine comes from a mix of terroirs and is based on 50% Grenache and 25% each Syrah and Mourvèdre. It has a deep ruby/plum hue as well as impressive depth and richness in its darker raspberry and cherry fruits, which give way to more peppery, garrigue, and licorice nuances with time in the glass. I love its overall balance, it has fine tannins, and outstanding length.

The 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape blends one-half Grenache with the other half equally split between Syrah and Mourvèdre. Polished and round, swirling the glass unveils menthol notes, dried herbs, ripe black cherry, strawberry and a spoon of raspberry jam. This full-bodied 2021 red boasts a whopping 15.5% alcohol, revealing itself through a touch of heat on the savory finish.

The 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape brings more volume and richness, with both red and black fruits, medium to full body, and notes of black raspberries, peppery herbs, graphite, and chalky minerality. Rich, nicely concentrated, and balanced, it shows the lively, elegant, pretty style of the vintage while still bringing solid fruit and texture. The blend is 50% Grenache and 25% each of Syrah and Mourvedre, with the élevage in concrete tanks (60%) and demi-muids and older barrels.