Château La Nerthe, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (2019) Magnum

Château la Nerthe continues its return to form with its 2019 Tradition, a remarkably high-quality wine considering the volumes made. It's grown on lieux-dits La Crau, Les Escondudes, La Nerthe and Les Revès on sandy soils and galets roulés. Aged 75% in foudre, 25% in new barriques. The intriguing blend, and the parcel-by-parcel approach, has yielded a very complete, harmonious and balanced wine. It's closed for now, but has a good sense of freshness. Subtle damson hints, nicely tucked in and focussed on the palate with a distinctly saline finish.

A very rich and expansive Chateauneuf with a slew of subtle spicy and underbrush notes. Ample, powdery tannins support all this very well and give the long finish a pleasantly dry profile. From organically grown grapes.

Chateau la Nerthe's 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape is roughly one-third each Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah, with a sprinkling of a few other permitted varieties. Aged in a combination of foudres and new oak barriques, it offers a clean, balanced nose of cedar and vanilla against a backdrop of raspberries and black cherries. Full-bodied, supple and reasonably intense, it finishes long and silky. Best after 2023

Close to an even split of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape has a perfumed, beautifully elegant, and medium-bodied style that carries lots of cherry and fresh plum fruits as well as peppery spice and floral notes. The balance is spot on, as is the purity of fruit. Drink it over the coming 15 years or more.

Ripe and forward, with raspberry preserve and melted red licorice notes melding with warm fruitcake and black tea accents. Offers nice caressing mouthfeel through the finish, too. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Drink now through 2032.