2016 Gigondas Le Plateau Domaine des Bosquets

Under the helm of the young Julien Brechet, with aid from omnipresent Philippe Cambie, Domaine des Bosquets has quickly risen into the top handful of estates in Gigondas, as well as in all of the Southern Rhône. The 2015s shine for their purity and finesse, but the 2016s have everything you could want in wine. You can't go wrong with any of these.

Virtually all Mourvèdre (there are a few Grenache and Syrah vines mixed in), the 2016 Gigondas Le Plateau was fermented as whole bunches and developed an exotic nose, ranging from hints of flowers and herbs to fraises des bois, cherries, plums and pineapple. It's full-bodied and rich, with a supple mid-palate and firm tannins on the finish. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.

Bright violet. Expressive blackberry, cassis, incense and spicecake scents show impressive clarity and pick up a smoky mineral nuance with air. Sweet and seamless in the mouth, offering deeply concentrated red and dark fruit preserve, star anise and violet pastille flavors that are given focus and spine by a core of juicy acidity. Deftly blends richness and finesse and finishes extremely long and sappy; pliant tannins add shape and grip.

Hints of sweet licorice and spice mark this intensely ripe but stately wine made from predominantly Mourvèdre. Compared with the producer's other Gigondas bottlings, La Plateau has a depth of minerality and distinct freshness of acidity. A potent yet graceful wine edged by fine, persistent tannins. Enjoy now-2030.