Domaine Saint Préfert Domaine Saint Préfert Collection Charles Giraud Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2018 750ml

The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Collection Charles Giraud includes a big chunk of Mourvèdre and is 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre that was partially destemmed and brought up in demi-muids. If offers a deep ruby/plum color as well as a rich, savory, complex bouquet of black raspberries, cassis, toasted spice, cured meats, and graphite. The Mourvèdre really shows in this beauty, and it’s full-bodied, concentrated, and structured, yet never loses its seamless, flawlessly balanced profile. It’s going to need 4–5 years of bottle age but will have 20–25 years of ultimate longevity. It’s another thrilling wine from this estate. (Jeb Dunnuck)

Intense, with a Turkish coffee note out front before the core of steeped plum, black cherry and fig fruit starts to unfurl, while extra hints of singed alder, garrigue and warm earth develop, adding length and range on the finish. Delivers muscular power and perfumed grace that work together perfectly. Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. Best from 2022 through 2040. (James Molesworth)

Opaque ruby. A complex, expansive bouquet evokes ripe red-blue fruits, exotic spices and potpourri, all enlivened by a smoky mineral nuance that builds as the wine opens up. Sweet, chewy and energetic in the mouth, offering concentrated black raspberry, boysenberry, violet pastille and fruitcake flavors that show excellent clarity and back-end lift. The mineral and floral notes build on an insanely long, penetrating finish shaped by emerging, polished tannins. This monumental wine was fermented in concrete tanks and raised in demi-muids. (Josh Raynolds)

This is large in scale, showing off a range of cassis, red tea, crushed plum, warmed cherry compote, Turkish coffee, melted red licorice and warm earth flavors, all seamlessly layered and carried through a lush, yet focused finish. The warm earth note provides the ground wire in the end as the fruit takes an encore. Gorgeous. Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. Best from 2024 through 2040. 3,960 cases made, 330 cases imported. (James Molesworth)

Saturated ruby. Highly expressive, mineral-accented cherry and dark berry liqueur, cola, licorice and potpourri scents are complemented by an exotic spice nuance. Broad and fleshy in the mouth, offering deeply concentrated black raspberry, boysenberry and bitter cherry flavors that become sweeter and more lively as the wine opens up. Shows excellent clarity and floral lift and finishes extremely long and spicy, with steadily building tannins adding closing grip. (Josh Raynolds)

Boasting the darkest fruit of the three 2018s from Saint-Préfert, the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Collection Charles Giraud delivers notes of black cherries and dark chocolate, plus hints of wintergreen, cassia bark and baking spices. It’s full-bodied but less expansive on the palate than the others, compact and dense without being heavy or overdone, and it’s framed by ripe but supportive tannins. Mexican chocolate and cola notes linger elegantly on the lasting finish. (Joe Czerwinski)

Lastly, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Collection Charles Giraud is a more Mourvèdre driven wine and is 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre, from 80-year-old vines, that was only partially destemmed and brought up all in demi-muids. Ruby/purple-hued with gorgeous crème de cassis and black cherry fruits as well as notes of smoked meats, white chocolate, ground pepper, and candied violets, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a seamless, silky texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a great, great finish. As with the other 2018s here, it’s pure class. It can be drunk today or cellared for 15+ years.