Much like the La Combe des Fous, the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Deus Ex Machina seems denser and more concentrated and powerful than the more elegant 2018. Purple fruit and dark chocolate retain a remarkable degree of freshness in this full-bodied, velvety-textured and arguably over-exuberant puppy. There's tremendous material here, compressed into a potent ball of vinous energy that I expect will develop some more nuance and elegance over time.

The 2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Deus Ex Machina is a towering effort and has the edge over the 2020. It's the opposite of shy, wafting from the glass with expressive aromas of cooked black fruits, raisins, licorice, cloves, garrigue, graphite, roasted meat, tobacco and a splash of mint. Expanding vertically on the palate, it is a multi-dimensional, powerful red, enveloped in velvety tannins and framed by lively acidity. Its finish is extremely long and persistent. Although it is delicious, one glass will do for me as it is almost too much to absorb.