Château Maucoil Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2014, Vaucluse, France

Dark ruby in color with a purplish/reddish rim.

Nice nose of blueberries, cherries, strawberries, wood, licorice, vanilla, earth, vegetables, graphite, spices, alcohol, herbs, bell pepper, wet leaves, light barnyard, smoke, light vinaigrette, cloves and peppercorn.

Full bodied and smooth with medium plus acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with plums, raspberries, strawberries, currants, vanilla, cloves, oak, earth, pencil lead, peppercorn, leather, tobacco, green vegetables, bitter herbs, dark chocolates, coffee and spices.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This Châteauneuf-du-Pape is already drinking nicely, but it is still young. Not fully balanced yet, but still enjoyable by itself. Good food wine too.

Showing great complexity and a very pleasant mouthfeel. Still a bit bitter on the ending, though. The nose is earthier than the palate.

Will be better in a few years, even though this vintage was not the best, like the one right after it. I have a few more bottles, and I’ll check them out in the next few years.

I paired it with Asiago cheese crackers and blackberries.

Needed over 2 hours to open up.

A blend of 60% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre and 10% Cinsault.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

87 Points

$30.

• * Red Wine
• French Red Wine
• Southern Rhône Red