Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2017

Vincent Avril's 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape is one of the most powerful wines of the vintage. This beauty has it all. As with the 2018, the blend is heavily weighted towards Mourvèdre, and it offers a huge bouquet of black cherries, graphite, charcuterie, Asian spices and assorted garrigue nuances. Deep, full-bodied and concentrated, it remains upright and focused on the palate (whereas the 2016 is more expansive and voluptuous), with a full-bodied mid-palate, ripe, silky tannins and fabulous length. You'll need bottles of this wine in your cellar, and comparing 2007, 2010, 2016 and 2017 over the next two decades will be a treat... Jeb Dunnuck