Clos du Mont-Olivet Clos du Mont-Olivet La Cuvée du Papet Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2020 750ml

The deeper hued 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Cuvée Du Papet checks in as a blend of 75% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah that saw plenty of stems and aging mostly in foudre, with a small part in demi-muids and barrique. Straight-up sensational notes of blackcurrants, ground pepper, garrigue, leather, and graphite emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a concentrated, dense, powerful mouthfeel, building tannins, and a brilliant finish. It's built for the long haul, and along with the 2016, it’s one of the finest wines I've tasted from this talented family. Hide bottles for 7-8 years and enjoy over the following 20-25+.

The old vine cuvée that incorporates more stems with the goal of longer aging potential, the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Cuvée Du Papet is deep ruby-hued and offers ripe red and black berry fruits, black olive, pepper, and crushed stone-like minerality. Based on 80% Grenache with 10% each Syrah and Mourvèdre from the La Crau, Bois Dauphin, and Montalivet lieux-dits, it was partially destemmed and aged in a mix of large foudres, demi-muids, and clay jars. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it shows the vintage's more polished style with ripe underlying tannins and outstanding length. It's very much in the forward, charming style of the vintage yet still has plenty of structure. With roughly 1,000 cases produced, give it 3-4 years of cellaring and enjoy over the following two decades. It's certainly up there with the crème de la crème of the vintage. Drink 2028-2048.

The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Cuvée Du Papet is made in a more structured, age-worthy style and is 90% Grenache and 5% each Syrah and Mourvedre. Its slightly darker ruby color is followed by a gorgeous perfume of savory red and black fruits, ground pepper, garrigue, and chalky minerality. These all carry over to the palate, where the wine is full-bodied, has a dense, powerful mid-palate, lots of ripe tannins, and a great, great finish. It needs to be hidden for 4–5 years and will evolve beautifully over the following two decades. I suspect it will be one of the longest-lived wines in the vintage.

This is solid, with a still-tight core of black cherry and dark plum fruit liberally laced with warm stone, garrigue, tar and alder notes. Plenty grippy, with a smoldering tobacco accent through the finish. Best from 2022 through 2035. 300 cases made, 100 cases imported. (James Molesworth)

Brilliant violet. A highly perfumed nose displays mineral- and spice-accented red and dark berries, licorice and a hint of potpourri. Sappy cherry, black raspberry and spicecake flavors show vibrant lift and take on floral pastille and botanical herb nuances as the wine opens up. In a lively style, finishing sweet, floral and extremely long, with fine-grained tannins adding final grip.

Deep bright-rimmed ruby. Sexy, spice-accented aromas of raspberry, cherry liqueur, incense and succulent flowers, joined by a smoky mineral element that builds in the glass. Deep-pitched yet lively red and dark berry liqueur flavors stain the palate and display superb clarity and minerally lift. Finishes with impressive nerviness and thrust; silky tannins frame the wine’s sweet fruit.

The flagship is the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Du Papet and it’s based on 80% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, and 5% Syrah that see plenty of stems and aging mostly in demi-muids. Coming from the Bois Dauphin, La Crau, and Montalivet lieux-dits which are mostly sandy terroirs, the idea with this cuvée is always to make a more age-worthy, traditional wine that rewards bottle age. Lovers of old-school Châteauneuf will adore this 2018 and it has a captivating bouquet of red and black currants, peppery garrigue, spring flowers, and rose hips. Already perfumed, complex, and nuanced, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a silky, elegant texture, ripe yet nicely balanced tannins, and a great finish. It’s a wine that’s going to age on its balance and purity more so than power and richness. It’s going to pick up even more nuance with 4–6 years of bottle age and continue putting a smile on your face over the following 20 years. (Jeb Dunnuck)

Bright ruby. Heady, mineral- and spice-accented aromas of ripe red berries, incense and lavender are complemented by a smoky mineral nuance that builds as the wine opens up. Palate-staining raspberry and cherry liqueur, spicecake and floral pastille flavors pick up deeper licorice and cola notes on the back half. Conveys an appealing blend of richness and energy and closes with fine clarity, well-knit tannins and strong, spicy persistence. (Josh Raynolds)

An alluring wine, with a mix of ripe damson plum, red currant and spice cake wrapped around a core of firm iron. Reveals clove and apple wood smoke that add depth and warmth, and the long finish is powered by minerality and grainy tannins. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Best from 2024 through 2035. 500 cases made, 125 cases imported. (Kristen Bieler)

Scents of sun-warmed stones, asphalt and black olives emerge on the nose of the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape La Cuvee du Papet. Full-bodied, savory and complex, with flavors of dark, plummy fruit, hints of roasted meat and dried spices, it’s supple in feel and long on the finish.