Bright ruby-red. Ripe red fruits and pungent flowers on the fragrant, spice-accented nose. Juicy and animated on the palate, offering appealingly sweet raspberry and cherry flavors that deepen and slowly firm up through the back half. The spice and floral notes repeat on a long, gently tannic finish that leaves hints of licorice and cola behind.

A blend of 64% Grenache, 13% Mourvèdre, 12% Syrah and 11% a mix of Cinsault, Counoise, Terret Noir, Vaccarèse and Muscardin, Pignan's 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape comes out of the bottle with aromas of espresso and asphalt. Give it some air, and red-fruit notes emerge, along with some pretty herbal nuances. It's medium to full-bodied, supple and silky in feel, with early-drinking appeal once it's been decanted.

As to the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape, this is a quality Provençal, spicy red offering medium-bodied richness, a fleshy, expansive mid-palate, lots of garrigue and spice nuances, and the depth to evolve nicely or 7-8 years at a minimum.