Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Chateauneuf-du-Pape Reserve 2020

The Châteauneuf du Pape Réserve 2020 is probably the wine of the vintage. You won't find a richer, more concentrated wine, especially one that's perfectly balanced and fluid. Almost entirely composed of Grenache from a single parcel of sandy soils, aged in barrels, its dense purple hue is followed by a gigantic bouquet of black and blue fruits, Provence herbs, graphite, ground pepper and liquid violet. On the palate it is full-bodied, powerful and opulent, with solid but gentle tannins, remarkable purity of fruit and a huge mid-palate, giving it a certain approachability even today. Jeb Dunnuck