2016 Châteauneuf du Pape Les Gallimardes Rouge Domaine Giraud

Jeb Dunnuck 100 points: Bigger and richer, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Gallimardes is mostly Grenache (there's 10% Syrah) all from incredibly old vines in the Les Gallimardes lieu-dit located in the southern part of the appellation. This estate owns a tiny parcel here, and this cuvée is incredibly limited, with just 250 cases made. Possessing a huge, incredible nose of blackberries, black raspberries, crushed rocks, garrigue, melted licorice, and cured meats, this full-bodied 2016 has a wealth of fruit and richness, no hard edges, building tannins, and awesome purity of fruit. It's the finest example of this cuvée ever made and a perfect wine. Don't miss it!

Wine Spectator 97 points: This drips with steeped raspberry, plum and boysenberry fruit, making for a decidedly fruit-driven personality. Shows ample spine, with a deeply buried bolt of graphite and hints of Turkish coffee and ganache skittering through. Offers a long echo of smoldering tobacco. A stunner. Best from 2020 through 2045. 400 cases made. –JM

Parker-Czerwinski 95 points: A blend of 90% Grenache (aged in tank) and 10% Syrah (aged in barrel), the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Gallimardes comes from the lieu-dit of the same name and includes some fruit from Grenache vines that are more than 100 years old. Cherry and raspberry fruit flow easily across the palate in this full-bodied, silky wine that shows great richness, depth and length without excess weight. It's a terrific effort.

Galloni 96 points: Full ruby. Spice-and smoke-accented raspberry and cherry preserve scents are complicated by hints of exotic flowers and incense. Sweet and seamless in texture, offering palate-staining red and dark berry liqueur, fruitcake and candied lavender flavors that become livelier with air. Concentrated but vibrant and sharply delineated, showing superb finishing thrust, sneaky tannins and excellent, floral-driven persistence.