Clos des Brusquières Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2012

Tasted in three components. #1: Intensely perfumed in a distinctly pinot way, offering intense red berry and floral scents and a strong mineral component. Weightless and pure, with superb focus and depth. #2: Deeper cherry and dark berry character, with notes of licorice and black tea. Shows serious depth and power, with strong finishing grip. #3: Even richer than #2, offering bitter cherry and dark chocolate aromas and flavors and a hint of candied violet. The ultimate wine should be richer than usual for this estate, whose wines are always among the purest and most delineated of the Chateauneufs that I taste every year. Score - 92-94. (Josh Raynolds, vinousmedia.com, Jan. 2014)