Grand Nicolet 2016 Rasteau "Les Esqueyrons" 750ml

The top cuvée here is the 2016 Rasteau les Esqueyrons, a blend of 50% Grenache aged in concrete and 50% Syrah aged in oak. Baking spices and smoked meats greet the nose, framing the massive, dark-fruit flavors of plums and black cherries and adding welcome complexity. Full-bodied, plush and creamy, drink this hugely ripe, fleshy and intense wine over the next few years for the sheer thrills.

Score: 93 points -- Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate, 2018