Domaine La Barroche Fiancée Châteauneuf du Pape 2016 | 750 ml.

RP95 Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate 31st Aug 2018

"Produced from a 50-50 blend of Grenache and Syrah (the Grenache coming from 100-year-old vines) and aged in demi-muids, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Fiancee features smoky notes on the nose, hints of black olives and black cherries on the palate and a full-bodied, rich, velvety texture. Creamy and plush, the flavors linger on the finish. With production limited to 1,000 bottles, it may be hard to locate, and note that it isn’t produced every vintage." (95 pts.)

JD93 Jeb Dunnuck August 28, 2018

"One of the top Syrah dominated cuvées in any vintage it’s released, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Fiancée (50/50 Grenache and Syrah) is partially destemmed and brought up in a mix of foudre and demi-muids. It has a deep, dense, gamey style as well as a big, rich, full-bodied profile on the palate. This deeply colored effort shows more and more saddle leather and pepper with time in the glass and is a beautiful effort that has one foot in the Northern Rhône and one in the Southern Rhône. (Jeb Dunnuck)" (93 pts.)

VN93+ Vinous Jul 2018

"Bright violet color. Smoke-accented dark berry liqueur, cherry-cola and floral scents are sharpened by intense mineral and spice flourishes. Deeply concentrated but surprisingly energetic on the palate, offering sweet cassis, cherry liqueur and spicecake flavors that spread out slowly with aeration. Finishes extremely long and broad, with repeating smokiness and steadily mounting tannins." (93–95 pts.)