Domaine St. Prefert Charles Giraud Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2015

"Made from 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre, the 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Collection Charles Giraud sports a deep ruby/purple color as well as sensational notes of blackcurrants, toasted spice, cured meats and garrigue. While it starts out a touch reserved, it opens up beautifully with air and is full-bodied, concentrated and has masses of sweet tannin. This incredible barrel sample was even better on the second day, and will have more than two decades of longevity. Hold onto your hats with these latest releases from proprietress Isabel Ferrando, as they’re easily some of the most badass 2015s I was able to taste. If fact, they resemble a hypothetical mix of the 2007 and 2010, and I’m just hoping they show this well from bottle. In addition, while this estate is mostly known for their reds, don’t miss the whites, as over the past 4-5 years they’ve risen to the top of the heap in the appellation. Surprisingly, I wasn’t able to taste any 2014s from Ferrando, but her 2015s are some of the most impressive barrel samples I’ve tasted from her, and they’re more reminiscent of her 2007s (maybe with a touch of the 2010s) than her more recent vintages, which leaned heavily towards the fresher, more elegant end of the spectrum." 10/2016