Domaine Saint Prefert Collection Charles Giraud Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2017 / 1.5 L.

Even better (as well as a perfect wine), the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Collection Charles Giraud checks in as a nominal blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre that was brought up in demi-muids. It reveals a deep purple color as well as heavenly notes of blackberry and currant fruits intermixed with loads of cured meats, spice box, Asian spices, and a distinct loamy soil and minerality. Always more structured and powerful than the Reserve Auguste Favier release (no doubt due to the Mourvèdre component), it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, building yet polished tannins, flawless balance, and a great, great finish. Pure perfection in a glass, it’s as good as wine gets. Give bottles 2–4 years and enjoy over the following two decades. Hats off to winemaker Isabelle Ferrando for yet another thrilling wine! (Jeb Dunnuck)

The usual blend of 60/40 Grenache and Mourvèdre, the 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Collection Charles Giraud is unquestionably the more powerful and concentrated in the lineup and gives up a rocking bouquet of chocolaty dark fruits, ground pepper, earth, licorice, and cured meats. Massively concentrated and opulent, yet also layered and nuanced, with polished tannins, it should be reasonably approachable on release, yet be at its best with 2–4 years of bottle age and cruise for 10–15.

Saturated ruby. Explosive, smoke- and mineral-accented black raspberry, cherry cola, exotic spice and candied lavender aromas show outstanding delineation and pick up a succulent herb nuance with air. Sweet and expansive in the mouth, offering deeply concentrated red and dark berry preserve, fruitcake and floral pastille flavors and hints of star anise and musky rhubarb. The strikingly long, energetic finish shows strong minerally cut, an echo of sappy blue fruit and molten tannins that sneak in late.

Deep ruby. Powerful red/blue fruit preserve, baking spice, cola and potpourri scents show superb definition and take on a smoky nuance as the wine opens up. Plush, appealingly sweet and broad on the palate, offering concentrated black raspberry, boysenberry, kirsch and licorice flavors supported by an undercurrent of juicy acidity. Shows impressive power and floral lift on a very long, subtly chewy finish framed by steadily building tannins.