The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape is a big winner, with the vintage’s purity and elegance front and center while still bringing beautiful depth of fruit and richness. Black cherries, savory garrigue, spice, and loamy earth all emerge on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, pure, balanced, and straight-up seamless on the palate.

The "regular" cuvée from Domaine de la Solitude is a standout in 2020. A blend of 60% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 10% each Cinsault and Mourvèdre and 5% Counoise, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape boasts complex, layered aromas of garrigue, red raspberries and black cherries. Aged largely in stainless steel, it's full-bodied, supple and silky-textured on the palate, with a long, harmonious finish. While flattering to drink young, it should continue to provide pleasure for at least another decade. Nicely done!

Perfumed and inviting, with high-toned red licorice, violet, spiced berry and plum, laced with white pepper and graphite shaving. Silky on the palate, this is a less weighty, more delicate style showing elegance. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Counoise.