2016 Côtes du Roussillon Villages

During my visit to the estate last year, I reviewed the newly bottled 2017, somehow skipping the 2016 Côtes du Roussillon Villages le Clos des Fées. Don't worry; it's a reassuringly excellent blend of 50% Syrah, 20% each Carignan and Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre, aged 20 months in new French oak. Concentrated and rich without being overly dense or difficult to drink, it delivers blackberry, cedar and spice notes on the nose, a full-bodied, velvety experience on the palate and a lingering, gently tannic yet mouthwatering finish. Despite weighing in at 15% alcohol (pretty typical for this bottling), there's no sense of over-ripeness or excess weight—the wine remains wonderfully drinkable.