2011 Now finished: CHÂTEAUNEUF DU PAPE, Réserve Auguste Favier, Domaine Saint Préfert. Southern Rhône (Magnum)

Purchased in 2002 by ex banker Isabel Ferrando. Fully biodynamic since 2013.

A vintage of ripe but gentle wines. This is pretty big, but the accent is more on red fruit than black and there is freshness in the background.

Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar, 92 points:
“85% grenache and 15% cinsault. Bright ruby. Candied red berries and potpourri on the pungent nose. Sweet and expansive, offering energetic raspberry and cherry flavors and a bright touch of blood orange. Pure, focused and seamless, finishing with an echo of red fruits and silky, even tannins.”
Jancis Robinson:
“80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Cinsault. Blueish crimson – not that dense – with an evolved rim. Easy sweet red with some real succulence and life but it has given in to the vintage’s character and is far from dramatic. Rich, sweet finish. It really opens out on the finish: peacock’s tail. Very subtle indeed.”