2016 Guillaume Gonnet Châteauneuf du Pape Bel Ami
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
The final blend of the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Bel Ami ended up being 60-40 Grenache and Syrah, not the 50-50 split reported last year. It's still a rich, velvety-textured, full-bodied offering, with licorice and cracked pepper notes accenting ripe cherries. It should drink well for at least a decade.
Critic scores
Average Score
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
Vivid ruby. Expressive aromas of ripe red berries, candied flowers and smoky minerals take on a subtle garrigue nuance with aeration. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering fleshy raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that show very good depth and spicy lift. Finishes long and subtly tannic, featuring a sneaky mineral note.
60% Grenache, 40% Syrah. Cask sample. Confected cherry fruit, blackberry jam and clove spice. Dense but accessible on the palate with attractive dark chocolate notes on the length. Powerful, long and very ageable. (RH)