The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée De La Reine Des Bois is a bigger, richer, more structured wine, which is normal. A blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, and the rest equal parts Syrah and Vaccarese, its deeper ruby/purple hue is followed by a brilliant perfume of blackberries, black raspberries, ground pepper, violets, and new saddle leather. Medium to full-bodied and concentrated, with building tannins and great overall balance, it's another wine that shows the style of the vintage brilliantly. It has plenty of up-front charm, but this beauty will evolve nicely for 15-20 years. Looking at the vintages reviewed here, the estate compared 2020 to a mix of 2019 and 2018, commenting that their 2020s were less concentrated than their 2019s, which I wholeheartedly agree with, although I feel their 2020s still have plenty of structure. The 2021s show the fresher style of the vintage but don’t lack ripeness and have plenty of texture. As usual, all of these wines are impeccably made and worth seeking out.

Deep violet. Vibrant, mineral-accented red/blue fruit preserve scents are complemented by baking spice and potpourri topnotes. Sappy and concentrated on the palate, showing vibrant lift and energy to intense blueberry, cherry cola, floral pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen with air. Finishes sweet, seamless and impressively long, with steadily building tannins adding shape and closing grip.

The 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape La Reine des Bois is a more charming, seductive wine than the more concentrated and tannic 2019. Cherries, stone fruit and a hint of garrigue mark the nose, while the full-bodied palate is supple, nicely balanced and harmonious, showing impressive length and ample concentration on the finish.