Domaine de Marcoux Domaine de Marcoux Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 2020 750ml

Vivid magenta. Seductive raspberry liqueur, exotic spice, potpourri and incense aromas, along with hints of musky rhubarb and smoky minerals. Juicy, seamless and energetic in style, offering densely packed red fruit, cherry cola, spicecake and floral pastille flavors that show superb delineation and spread out steadily as the wine opens up. Fine-grained, even tannins lend shape to a strikingly persistent, penetrating finish that shows intense red-fruit- and spice-driven tenacity. This wine is a standout of the vintage. (Josh Raynolds)

Also a true gem of a wine, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes includes all three terroirs of Charbonnière, Esqueirons and Galimardes and is all Grenache. It’s a ripe, opulent, incredibly sexy wine that’s just about overflowing with notes of raspberries, blueberries, Provençal herbs, violets, and flowers. It’s a big, exuberant Grenache offering sweet tannins, a broad, mouth-filling texture, no hard edges, and a great finish. Give it a few years and enjoy over the following two decades. (Jeb Dunnuck)

This is marked by a gorgeously pure core of kirsch and raspberry reduction flavors, which are laced with rooibos tea, singed balsam wood, dried anise, garrigue and warm stone notes. Extremely long, with a singular focal point to the finish as everything is pulled together by finely beaded acidity. A terrific wine. Best from 2025 through 2040. 480 cases made, 120 cases imported. (James Molesworth)

This has power and concentration to the graphite- and smoke-edged black fig and currant flavors, with a steely mineral undercurrent and charred aniseed. In spite of the decadent fruit profile, this has a nice framework and lovely salinity driving freshness and impressive length. A blockbuster red with staying power. Best from 2024 through 2035. 490 cases made, 120 cases imported. (Kristen Bieler)

From vines planted in 1900, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes leads with aromas of cola, raspberries and dried spices. There’s none of the chocolaty excess seen in the regular cuvée, but this full-bodied wine reflects the heat of the year in its slightly coarser than usual tannins. It’s full-bodied without being heavy or overdone, just chewier than normal, and likely to age a bit quickly.

Due to yields, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes doesn’t include any grapes from the Gallimardes lieu-dit, so this vintage only includes Charbonnière and Esqueirons grapes. As always, it’s 100% Grenache brought up in a mix of concrete tank and foudre. Its deep ruby/purple hue is followed by a brilliant array of blueberries, violets, and pepper, and it’s full-bodied, has a seamless, elegant mouthfeel, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. I’d put it up with the top handful of wines in the vintage.