Fennel and grapefruit on the nose. Only medium-bodied, with a lovely sense of freshness and tension. Great brightness, acidity and balance. Pure and precise, with great drinkability and length. Should be long-lived. Contains all six permitted Châteauneuf white grapes in equal measure, fermented in stainless steel, with malolactic blocked.

Very different from the 2022 vintage, the 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape from Clos des Papes is deeper and more powerful. It reveals delicate aromas of flowers, iris, lilac and spices, intertwined with lovely peppery notes. Full-bodied, concentrated and dense, it displays the estate’s characteristic tension but with perfectly controlled power that brings a richer, solid core of fruit. The finish is long, ethereal and peppery, complemented by velvety tannins that promise graceful aging. It has a real potential to improve in the cellar.

One of the standouts in the vintage is the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape, a ripe, round, medium to full-bodied 2021 offering a beautiful array of black cherry and darker berry fruits, ample Provençal spice, and dried flower nuances. Wonderfully textured and balanced, with ripe tannins, as usual, Vincent has made one of the wines of the vintage. This will evolve gracefully for 15+ years. Readers wanting to taste the best of 2021 in the Southern Rhône should seek out these latest releases from Paul-Vincent. Of course, the quality here shouldn’t surprise anyone, and Paul-Vincent has a rare ability to make truly great, age-worthy wines even in challenging vintages. Having just recently enjoyed a brilliant bottle of the 1980, I can attest to how well even so-called Petit Millésime can age. Looking at the 2021s specifically, it doesn’t bring the power and concentration of the 2022, but it’s no shrinking violet either and has beautiful concentration as well as depth. The 2022 is a bigger, richer wine, yet as with all the wines I’ve tasted from this incredible address, it holds onto a remarkable sense of elegance, with flawless balance.

The 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is made with slightly more Grenache and less Syrah than previous vintages. Intermixing aromas of red and black fruits, dried herbs, white pepper and crushed rocks, this 2021 shows slightly less intensity than either the 2020 or 2019. Full-bodied, elegant and framed by smooth tannins, it is well-balanced by fresh acidity and closes with a savory finish.

Leather and spiced notes, pure with good fresh vivacity on the nose. The palate is ripe and seductive, layered with forest fruits, dark spiced figs. Attractive refreshing acidity, red fruits and a wild garrigue savoury Mourvèdre note – the tannins are supple and silky – dark forest-fruits finish which is broad, ample and opulent but always with a finesse of tannins and a savoury liquorice mineral note. (AC)