Almost all Grenache from mostly sandy soils, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Grande Reserve is a healthy step above the domaine’s regular bottling. A touch of aging in demi-muids has given the wine hints of cedar, vanilla and baking spices, but 95% of the wine was aged in concrete, so the oak influence is subtle. Most of what this wine delivers is full-bodied, ripe Grenache fruit, creamy in texture and loaded with mixed red berries and cherries. It’s a superb effort. – C.Z
