Domaine de la Janasse Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2018 750ml

Ripe and suave in feel, with velvety waves of crushed plum, raspberry and red cherry fruit rolling through, lined with light licorice, red tea and incense notes. Long finish. Real crowd-pleaser. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Drink now through 2032.

The 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape showed nicely, with the more charming, supple, elegant style of the vintage front and center. Giving up classic Provençal notes of kirsch liqueur, dried strawberries, flowery incense, truffle, and peppery garrigue, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness and has beautiful overall balance, silky tannins, and a great finish. It’s already upfront, complex, and drinking nicely, yet should nevertheless evolve gracefully for a solid decade.

Vivid ruby. Spice-accented red fruit and floral qualities on the nose, along with suggestions of garrigue, allspice and licorice. Lively raspberry, bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors steadily open up and become deeper and sweeter with air. The floral note carries through the clinging, energetic finish, which is framed by smooth, discreet tannins.

Now that it is in bottle, the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape exhibits dark-fruit aromas of plums and blackberries, plus notes of cola, dried spices and licorice. It's medium to full-bodied, lacking a bit of richness on the mid-palate, but remaining velvety there and through the chocolate- and coffee-tinged finish.