Domaine La Barroche Chateauneuf du Pape Julien Barrot 2017

Warm and lush in feel, with a cascade of cassis, plum puree and raspberry coulis flavors gliding through, laced with red licorice accents and enlivened by flashes of garrigue and rooibos tea on the finish. Shows lots of range and character. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre.

Replacing the Signature bottling, winemaker Julien Barrot has now put his name on the estate's entry-level Châteauneuf du Pape. The 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Julien Barrot is a fine effort, combining black cherries and red raspberries on the nose and backing the impressive fruit with ample weight, a plush, velvety texture and great purity and length on the finish. It should drink well for a decade or more.

Previously released as the Cuvée Signature, the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Julien Barrot checks in as a blend of 60% Grenache, 19% Mourvèdre, 14% Syrah, and the rest Cinsault, Vaccarèse and other varieties. It's another elegant, seamless wine that has a touch of Burgundy in its texture as well as length and offers notes of ripe black cherries, blackberries, crushed flowers, and ground pepper. Pure, medium-bodied, silky, and finesse-driven, it has a wonderful sense of freshness and purity. Drink it over the coming 15 years or more.