What I think might end up being the best Beaucastel since the 1990 or 2001, the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape offers a full-bodied, decadent style to go with awesome black and blue fruits, garrigue, licorice, crushed flowers and violets. The purity here is truly something, and it has fabulous mid-palate concentration, building tannin and massive texture. Given all of the fruit and texture here, it will no doubt drink well in its youth, but it should still be alive and kicking after two decades as well.

Beaucastel's 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape is drinking well at the moment, with at least several more good years ahead of it. Silky and supple in feel, it easily marries hints of ripe cherries, dried spices and fine glove leather into a harmonious whole that deftly combines fruity and savory elements, then lingers elegantly on the finish.

Brilliant ruby. Powerful aromas of candied blackberry, blueberry and licorice, with suggestions of lavender and cracked pepper. Lush, intensely flavored and supple in texture, offering spicy dark berry and cherry compote and olive tapenade flavors complicated by a subtle floral nuance. Finishes sappy and very long, with resonating spiciness, a hint of licorice and chewy, slow-building tannins.