Domaine de Saint Paul 2020 – Châteauneuf-du-Pape

(organic) The wine has a pale ruby color, with very slight garnet reflections. The nose is quite aromatic, with density and complexity. The first nose expresses savory spicy and herbaceous notes of liquorice, crushed peppermint, sweet fresh tobacco, nutmeg, vanilla, as well as toasted hazelnut, coffee with milk and a very delicate touch of toasted wood in the background. On the second nose, we smell the aromas of morello cherry, crushed wild strawberry, raspberry coulis, chocolate prunes, dried cranberries, as well as roasted red cherry and chocolate morello cherry, combined with aromas of roasted bouquet garni, garrigue and a touch of dry stone. The palate is rich and savoury, with enveloping, powerful, but very fine and melted tannins. We find the flavors of morello cherry in chocolate, prunes in chocolate, crème de cassis, crushed wild strawberry, sweet quetsche plum and blackberry, combined with notes of liquorice, dark chocolate with mint, toasted hazelnut, with a bitter hint of cocoa and almond, as well as notes of sweet tobacco, dried rosemary, peppermint in the background and garrigue. The finish is long, generous and sapid, even a little sweet. We smell notes of chocolate cherry and a textured, powdery hint of cocoa on the persistence, associated with flavors of dried red cherry, roasted red cherry and dried blackcurrant. A deep, rich and concentrated wine, with a beautiful tannic structure and salivating acidity, which balances its generosity and its robust structure.