CDP Tradition, Domaine Giraud 2016

Moving to the reds, the base 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blockbuster, and this is one of those cases where you have to wonder if it’s worth the cost of the special cuvées when this wine is so good. Maire describes the 2016 vintage as a mix of the 2010 and 2007 vintages, and I can’t disagree. This beautiful 2016 offers a terrific nose of black raspberries, garrigue, and peppered meat in a full-bodied, ripe, incredibly sexy, seamless style. It has a boatload of tannins, and despite its intensity and richness, is still elegant and seamless. Buy a case of this, trust me.

Made from 50- to 80-year-old vines, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape offers tremendous purity for an entry-level cuvée. Pine and rosemary notes accent bright cherry fruit in this full-bodied, creamy textured and lush example of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The assemblage is 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre. Enjoy it over the next decade.