Paul Avril - Chateauneuf-du-Pape 'Clos des Papes' - 2020

Proprietor Paul-Vincent Avril expects to bottle 100,000 bottles of something approximating this final blend, tasted out of foudre. A blend of 55% Grenache, 35% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah and other permitted varieties, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape looked exceptional on this day, offering up scents of framboise and kirsch alongside dried flowers and Asian spices. Full-bodied yet weightless, silky and long, this is special stuff, complex and balanced. 96-98 Points Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate