Chateau Rayas : Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2010

Elegance meshed with power, purity, and complexity says it all. This stunner—and it is stunning—offers a complex array of roses, kirsch, licorice, cherries, raspberries, and kirsch in the perfume. And the palate is even better, with its endless layers of vibrant, opulent, deep red fruits, spice, and peppery herbal notes that do not want to quit. While you can enjoy this today, give it some more time, as it will age for decades. Drink from 2028–2050.

The absolute pinnacle of the vintage: miraculous aromatic tenderness, a silky texture, with the poise of the finest Burgundian grands crus in the way the tannins are integrated into the wine—yet without any oak influence!