"Blended, but still aging in barrel, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape will likely be bottled in March 2019. Brandied cherries and dried spices mark the nose of this full-bodied, plush wine. It's slightly warm, and certainly rich, but it remains fresh and long on the finish. It should be a beauty." 94-96/100 RP

"Proprietor Louis Barruol continues to turn out some of the most exciting wines in his home appellation of Gigondas while expanding his négociant activities. For those who didn't know, he also has a joint venture to produce Riesling and Pinot Noir in New York's Finger Lakes. He's bullish on the Southern Rhône 2016s. As he said to me, "Maybe it is as good as 2010." He's tinkered with the Gigondas lineup, eliminating the Valbelle bottling and blending it with his Gigondas. The other bottlings are all single-parcel, 100% Grenache wines from le Claux, Hominis Fides and le Poste. Barruol is a champion of Gigondas's move to add white wine to the appellation. I reviewed his 2016 Côtes du Rhône le Poste last year, a barrel-fermented Clairette, and it has opened up a bit since then, making a more convincing case. Reviews of the Northern Rhône bottlings will be included at a later date." RP (Joe Czerwinski)