Brotte Brotte Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Hauts de Barville 2020 750ml

A winey, stylish version, with cassis, steeped cherry, mulberry and lavender notes, all edged in warm iron. Full yet streamlined, this is buoyed by fine acidity for precision on the finish, which is graced with apple wood smoke. Grenache and Syrah. Drink now through 2030. 9,500 cases made, 2,000 cases imported.

Exuberant and expressive, this offers cherry coulis, raspberry, red licorice and warm earth notes that are juicy and open-knit, yet propped up with snappy acidity, a refreshing surge of fine mineral and a note of tar. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2030. 10,000 cases made, 3,500 cases imported.

Very much in the style of the vintage, the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Hauts De Barville is based on 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 12% Mourvèdre, 1% Cinsault, and a 2% mix of varieties that was raised mostly in foudre but also in new and used barrels and concrete tank. It has a charming, medium-bodied, nicely textured profile as well as ample sweet red fruits, some spicy, peppery, garrigue-like nuances, soft tannins, and outstanding length. Beautifully done and well worth seeking out, like most 2023s, it’s going to offer pleasure right out of the gate. 90-92 points.

A classic, grenache-dominated Chateauneuf with a wide spectrum of red fruit, as well as notes of spices and violets. Rich, but with plenty of moderately dry tannin to balance the fleshiness, this has a long finish, where the sweetness and savory character are neatly matched. Drink or hold.