Red Wine from Rhône Valley, France

The 2023 Châteauneuf du Pape comes from the Brotte family (where the fruit is sourced) and is 90% Grenache and 5% each Syrah and Mourvèdre. Already bottled, it has a juicy, upfront, undeniably delicious style that brings both red and black fruits, some peppery, herbes de Provence-like nuances, medium to full body, and an upfront, ready-to-go style. 91pts JD
The mastermind behind this project is legendary importer/négociant Fran Kysela, the Master Somm who Robert Parker called “one of the finest palates and selectors of top wine.” For this succulent Grenache-dominated Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Kysela teamed up with the fifth-generation Brotte clan, owners of Domaine Barville and one of the first producers to estate-bottle Châteauneuf, back in the 1930s. This 2023, born of a steady summer with a burst of late-August heat, showcases Old World Rhône at its most epicurean—“juicy, upfront, undeniably delicious,” as critic Jeb Dunnuck put it.