2018 Châteaneuf-du-Pape Charles Giraud Rouge Famille Isabel Ferrando (St. Prefert)

Moving to the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Collection Charles Giraud, it checks in as 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre brought up in demi-muids. It's a more structured wine than the Reserve Auguste Favier and boasts killer notes of ground pepper, graphite, spice box, and blackberries. With a huge core of sweet fruit, a layered, seamless texture, full body, and more concentration and depth than most in the vintage, it's up with the top 2-3 wines out there in 2018.

The 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Collection Charles Giraud is the usual blend of approximately 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre. It's dark and rich, with flavors of black cherries and plums joined by hints of tree bark and perhaps even a bit of mushroom. Full-bodied and velvety, it's powerful, concentrated and long on the finish, folding in subtle chocolate notes. 2021 - 2035.

Intense, with a Turkish coffee note out front before the core of steeped plum, black cherry and fig fruit starts to unfurl, while extra hints of singed alder, garrigue and warm earth develop, adding length and range on the finish. Delivers muscular power and perfumed grace that work together perfectly. Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. Best from 2022 through 2040.

Deep and dark, which is hard to find this year, the fruit combines black cherries, plums, kirsch and black raspberries with a blast of spice. Rich, but not out of balance, the wine sits perfectly on the corner of full and balanced. Length, purity and elegance are the cornerstone here in the finish. I really like the depth of flavor, spice and expansiveness in the finish which comes from all the Mourvedre. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/2020/10/2018-chateauneuf-du-pape-report-with-tasting-notes-harvest-info/?fbclid=IwAR3NjDhWE_jIJkpzvnXni6gCAOTtWz5N9vqjOLXPzs3Tpi8-XMxXvgFEbkw

Really lifted, aromatic, lung-filling aromas, strongly led by Mourvèdre. Heavy, heady blooms along with strawberry and earth. This has a full-bodied, fat and broad palate, but there's enough energy to keep it tight and rolling. Fine tannins and plenty of them, as well as marked acidity for a 2018. Alcohol is on the high side but this is nonetheless very good. Tight, taut and mineral.

Saturated ruby. Highly expressive, mineral-accented cherry and dark berry liqueur, cola, licorice and potpourri scents are complemented by an exotic spice nuance. Broad and fleshy in the mouth, offering deeply concentrated black raspberry, boysenberry and bitter cherry flavors that become sweeter and more lively as the wine opens up. Shows excellent clarity and floral lift and finishes extremely long and spicy, with steadily building tannins adding closing grip.