Very fresh sour-cherry, plum and blackberry aromas with some minty freshness make this an enticing Chateauneuf. Concentrated and focused on the powerful palate, the plush tannins already integrated enough to make it accessible. Good aging potential.

Deep ruby-red. Expressive smoke- and mineral-accented raspberry, cherry-cola, exotic spice and floral aromas show fine delineation and pick up a licorice nuance with air. Sweet and broad in the mouth, offering concentrated red and dark berry liqueur, fruitcake and lavender flavors that show energetic back-end lift. The long, sappy finish features a resonating cherry note and polished tannins that sneak in late.

This vintage seemed to produce exactly what the team at Cellier des Princes needed, and the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Heredita - crafted with the advice of consultant Philippe Cambie - boasts lovely floral aromas backed by layers of ripe black cherries. A blend of 90% Grenache, 5% Mourvedre and 5% Syrah, it's full-bodied, silky and expansive without excess weight, a real beauty. Yes, it's on the ripe, almost plum and chocolate side of things, but it retains a sense of weightlessness and terrific length that's hard to top.