The 2014 Châteauneuf du Pape is a beautiful wine in the vintage, and Marc compares it to the 2012. I’m not sure I agree, but there’s no denying the quality in this 2014. Sporting a deep ruby color and terrific notes of blackberries, ground herbs, pepper and Provençal spice, it shows the more forward, charming nature of the vintage and is medium to full-bodied, pure and balanced. Drink it anytime over the coming decade.

This reference point estate continues to achieve incredible quality in just about every vintage. They’ve certainly made the wine of the vintage in 2014 with their Hommage a Jacques Perrin release, and it defies the vintage characteristics. As to their 2015s, Marc Perrin commented during my visit that he’d never seen a vintage where ever variety excelled like in 2015. I was able to taste through all of the single varieties that will go into their Châteauneuf du Pape cuvées, and he’ll get no argument from me on that assertion. I’ve also opted to include their Famille Perrin Gigondas and Vinsobres releases in this report as well. The top cuvées from Gigondas (no Vieilles Vignes was presented this go around) are truly great wines; the Vinsobres Les Hauts de Julien is easily one of the top wines from the appellation and would pass undetected in a blind lineup of great northern Rhône Syrahs.