2016 Châteauneuf du Pape L'Avenue Vaudieu

Jeb Dunnuck 97+ points: The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape L'Avenue is all Grenache sourced from a single parcel near the estate and aged 18 months in demi-muids. This deeply colored beauty boasts a huge perfume of black raspberries, blackberries, dried flowers, bouquet garni, and sandy/loamy soil notes. With a powerful, concentrated, structured style, incredible purity of fruit, and tons of tannin on the finish, hide bottles for 3-5 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following decade or more.

Parker-Czerwinski 96 points: The 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape l'Avenue is entirely Grenache from the lieu-dit Vaudieu, aged in demi-muids. Loaded with black cherries, cedar and vanilla, it's a full-bodied, plush sexpot of a wine. Velvety, intense, long and layered, this wine has it all. If only there were more than 350 cases of this elixir.

Wine Specator 96 points:Intense, with a gorgeous core of crushed plum, boysenberry and blackberry pâte de fruit flavors, inlaid liberally with fruit cake, licorice snap and graphite notes. Fruit pumps through the finish while a graphite edge lends support and a black tea hint checks in. Best from 2020 through 2040. 75 cases imported. –JM

Galloni 95 points: Brilliant violet. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red fruit, exotic spices and candied flowers, along with subtle garrigue and mineral flourishes. Sweet, seamless and energetic on the palate, offering concentrated Chambord, spicecake and cola flavors sharpened by a late jolt of spicy white pepper. The spicy quality builds steadily through an extremely long, supple finish that's given shape by fine-grained, harmonious tannins.