Châteauneuf-du-Pape “Les Vieilles Vignes” AOP 2016

Deep dark ruby red with a violet rim and opaque core, the wine is clear and bright in the glass.

Oui, monsieur.

With the clarity of a morning dawn, the complex aroma of this classic cuvée of mainly Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, Cinsault and Clairette shines. Red berry fruits reveal themselves in close association with herbal spice and earthiness. Never exuberant, never ostentatious, the wine has a fascinating balance. Sloe, blueberry and cranberry combine with rosemary, cocoa husk and turmeric as if from an ancient recipe. A touch of orange oil gives the wine freshness and puts it into a frenzy of change.

On the palate, the 2016 Chateauneuf-du-Pape "Les vieilles Vignes" of the Domaine de Villeneuve proves with what ease it combines the paradox between power and fullness with balance and delicacy, as if there were no other way. Celebrating ripe red fruit, it always keeps its footing and convinces the mouth with velvety tannin. Long reverberating with dark echoes, it is both already more than enjoyable today, but also knows how to outlast the next decade.