Chateauneuf du Pape Chante Le Merle Vieilles Vignes Bosquet des Papes 2016 (1.5L)

97 Points, Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate: "The all whole-bunch 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Chante le Merle Vieilles Vignes is 85% Grenache, with the balance a mix of Mourvèdre and Syrah. The vines are all 80 to 90 years old, selected from parcels in Brusquières, Gardiole, Mont-Redon and Pignan. Glorious raspberry and cherry fruit picks up hints of mint and some stemmy notes, but they're remarkably well-integrated and should be completely absorbed within a couple of years. Full-bodied, rich and creamy in texture, this tour de force remains lively, silky and long on the finish. With 1,000 cases produced, it should be reasonably priced and reasonably available-an increasingly rare combination in Châteauneuf-du-Pape." 8/18

95 Points, Josh Raynolds, Vinous Media: "(made entirely with whole clusters) Deep, shimmering red. A highly complex, intensely perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red and dark berries, potpourri, exotic spices and garrigue and a vibrant mineral nuance builds in the glass. Shows superb depth and focus on the palate, offering deeply pitched raspberry, cherry pie, Asian spice and floral pastille flavors that deftly marry power to delicacy. Finishes sappy, gently tannic and extremely long, leaving behind vibrant mineral, spice and lavender notes." 12/19

95 Points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator: "This has a lovely feel, with a silky but persistent structure allowing a range of creamed raspberry, damson plum and boysenberry fruit flavors to glide through, while light rooibos tea, sandalwood and anise accents chime throughout. Shows pretty floral lift at the end. Best from 2020 through 2036. 1,200 cases made." 2/19

96+ Points, Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com: "The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Chante Le Merle Vieilles Vignes is much more classic in style when compared to the La Gloire de Mon Grand-Père. It's a non-destemmed blend of 86% Grenache and the balance equal parts Mourvèdre and Syrah, aged in a mix of foudre, concrete tanks, and demi-muids. Classic notes of black fruits, smoked herbs, seaweed, licorice, and pepper as well tons of minerality all emerge from this powerful, full-bodied, structured 2016 that has the purity of fruit and balance that's the hallmark of this great, great vintage. Forget bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades." 8/18