Cuvée du Vatican Réserve de l'Abbé Côtes du Rhône 2019

Robert Parker is a long-time devotee of Cuvée du Vatican (theirs was the first case of Châteauneuf-du-Pape he ever bought – a wine that’s largely credited with launching his decades-long career). The label’s also been a favorite of the papacy since 1958, when Pope John XXIII blessed Cuvée du Vatican. (They still send a case to Rome each year.)

Your taste of the estate is winemaker Jean-Marc Diffonty’s Côtes-du-Rhône Réserve. Last vintage, leading critic Jeb Dunnuck rated it 90 points and called it “a beauty, offering loads of upfront black cherries, plums, licorice, and pepper aromas, medium to full body, a rounded, sexy texture, and no hard edges. It’s a smoking good effort.” And the 2019 release is every bit as impressive ...

It’s a classic Rhône blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, left unoaked to allow all the juicy notes of ripe cherry and strawberry to shine through in your glass. Also look for hints of licorice and wild herb, plus a long, smooth finish. Drinking deliciously now, but don’t be afraid to hide a few bottles away to enjoy over the next few years (we love it with lamb or beef dishes).

Monsieur Diffonty’s a stickler about quality, and only makes limited amounts of his Réserve de l’Abbé – get in now to secure your share.