Chateau La Nerthe, Chateauneuf du Pape Les Clavelles 2016

"All whole-cluster fruit from a single parcel of old Grenache, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape les Clavelles boasts fascinating notes of cedar, due to its élevage in small oak, ripe cherries and strawberries, resinous herbs and dried spices. For a full-bodied wine, it's remarkably light on its feet and elegant, framed by silky tannins and a lingering, intense finish redolent of strawberries, star anise and allspice. This bottling has next to no track record (the first vintage was 2015), so it remains to be seen how long and well it will age, but I feel safe in suggesting at least a decade of drinkability." -Wine Advocate

"Streamlined in feel, with sanguine, red tea and mineral notes in lockstep with a core of red currant, bitter cherry and blood orange flavors. Everything stays focused and fine-grained through the savory- and incense-flecked finish." -Wine Spectator