Famille Isabel Ferrando : Colombis 2020

This is a lovely display of fruit, with cassis, bitter cherry and mulberry notes that stretch out effortlessly, carried by a perfectly embedded structure and backed by lilting anise and red and black tea notes along the way. Reveals a seductive mouthfeel too, but don't let that fool you -- this will age well. Drink now through 2036. 869 cases made, 190 cases imported.

Very fragrant, with sweet-plum and cocoa-powder notes, but not a hint of overripeness, this is a spectacular Chateauneuf! Very rich and sensual, this rolls over your palate and before you know it you’re lost in its warm embrace. The fine tannins at the expansive, spicy finish are spot-on. A single-vineyard wine that’s 100% grenache. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

The single-varietal Grenache 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Colombis is a towering effort. Having the edge over the 2021 and coming in at 15.5% alcohol, it presents pristine aromas of ripe red fruits with a jewel-like quality, dried lavender, cardamom, licorice, pencil shavings, and crushed rocks. Full-bodied and layered, it is framed by ultra-velvety tannins and balanced by high levels of fresh acidity. There is fantastic tension on the complex finish that goes on for well over a minute. 6,000 bottles produced.

Floral in character, the wine pops with flowers, roses, kirsch, mint leaf, and black raspberry. Medium-bodied, elegant, fresh, bright, clean and pure, the sweetness of the red fruits on the palate, with all the lift, energy, and a touch of pepper has length and vibrancy, leaving you with a hint of peppery orange peel and green olives on the finish. The wine is made from 100% old-vine Grenache from vines planted in 3 terroirs: sand, limestone, and clay. The grapes are whole-bunch fermented. Drink from 2024-2037.

Medium deep garnet colour. Fine purity and intensity blending floral violet and lavender with cassis, kirsch, spice box, tobacco and tapenade. The palate has a magnificent concentration without heaviness, layered and nuanced with spicy wild berry fruit, sweet plum, cassis and meaty flavours, plenty of powdery tannin and a well-kept acidity leading to a tremendously long and vigorous finish. Amazing potential here.

The 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Colombis just about jumps out of the glass with its kirsch, ripe strawberry, wildflower, Provençal spice, and loamy earth-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a seamless, incredibly elegant mouthfeel, gorgeous tannins, and one great finish. It doesn't have the sheer mid-palate depth of the 2007 or 2016 (but few wines do) and is already accessible and undeniably delicious. This brilliant Grenache will drink well for 15 years or more.

A fairly accurate definition of the fruit: notes of ripe burlat cherry and spices. The palate is enveloping, with a body that is fairly high in alcohol; it feels quite velvety and tactilely elegant.