Roger Sabon, Chateauneuf Du Pape Prestige

Roger Sabon, Chateauneuf Du Pape PrestigeProduced from mostly old Grenache with some vines that are close to 100 years of age, the wine is packed with kirsch, black raspberry, earth, herb, jam and black pepper. Full bodied and loaded with sweet, ripe, juicy fruit, this delicious Chateauneuf du Pape can be enjoyed now, or over the next 15 years.

with a lush palate and flavors that linger in your mouth long after you swallow

It also shows a lot of balsamic character

(2016 will be the last vintage for this wine)

Here's another new submission from Riecine

and in combination with the delightful herbal expression on the finish produces an exhilarating coolness on the palate

and they are played out to good effect in this bottle

the 2012 acquits itself nicely

18 ha parcel of 20+ year old vines and fermented like the Clos de Vougeot)

There's really appetising underlying structure here

note that ample bottle age will be required

mocha and spices all flesh out in this exuberant wine

Here too the medium weight flavors possess good richness and power along with an appealing sense of tension that suffuses the more persistent if more rustic finale