Châteauneuf du Pape, Colombis, 2017
Open-knit and seductive with a fine-grained, gripping structure. Allures and opens more and more the further it glides across the palate finishing on beautiful floral notes of plum, kirsch, rose hip and blueberry. Gorgeous. From Grenache vines located in the sandy Rayas sector, fermented with whole bunches and aged in demi muid barrels.
critic reviews
The 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Colombis kicks off with fragrant licorice, dried red fruits, crushed flowers and tobacco notes. Markedly concentrated, the full-throttle 2017 is framed by firm tannins. Were it not for the slight trace of heat on the powerful and persistent finish, I’d score it a little higher.
The 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Colombis, sourced (as always) from three parcels of old Grenache vines, shows more oak than I would have expected and some chewy tannins on the finish. There's plenty of ripe berry fruit and ample weight and concentration, so if the wood and tannins integrate and soften, my rating could look stingy in a few years' time.