Lastly, and a wine that will be a candidate for perfection in 4-5 years, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Centenaire reveals a deep ruby/purple hue as well as extraordinary notes of black cherries, licorice, iron, nori, and peppery garrigue. As with the base 2019, the estate did an incredible job with the tannins, and this wine is flawlessly balanced, with ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and the sheer class to evolve for 25+ years. This is a perfect example of power with no sensation of weight or heaviness. The blend in 2019 is 84% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, and 6% Syrah, and it wasn’t destemmed and was brought up mostly in concrete tanks, with just 6% in very old barrels.

The 2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Centenaire stands out from the crowd. This Grenache-led blend with some Mourvèdre and Syrah, aged for 18 months in a combination of old oak barriques and concrete tanks. The 2019 Cuvée Centenaire wafts from the glass with a fragrant perfume of well-defined ripe cranberry, red cherry, raspberry, strawberry along with beautiful hints of dried lavender, cardamon and licorice. Once it hits the palate, this muscular red expands vertically and unfolds layer after layer. It is framed in ever-so-velvety tannins and kept in check by fresh acidity. The long-lasting finish is magnificent, with new flavors developing long after the wine has left the palate. If stored well, it will celebrate its 20th birthday in excellent shape.

The 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Centenaire is approximately 84% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre and 6% Syrah, predominantly from a vineyard planted in the late 19th century. Aged almost entirely in foudre, it nevertheless hints at smoke and campfire on the nose while remaining dominated by black cherries and red raspberries. Full-bodied and concentrated, with ample depth and richness, this really shows its class on the long, silky, mouthwatering finish. It should drink well for upwards of a decade. Tasted blind.