2019 Xavier Vignon "Cuvée Anonyme" Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Lots of black cherries and plums with toasted spices, crushed walnuts, grilled herbs, roasted meat and wet earth. Full-bodied with chewy tannins and a firm, chalky texture. Structured and layered with ground black pepper and blue flower undertones to the vivid blue-fruited palate. Toned and tense in the finish.

Our relationship with Xavier has been fortunate. Since we began working with him directly, we have been introduced to some of the coolest wines we have found from any of our producers. The straight-from-the-barrel 1972, 2000 and now, 1983 are all unicorns. With his Arcane series, he blends across terroir and sometimes vintages to create magnificent wines that are often sums better than their parts cuvees. But the wine that turned my head so many years ago, was the Cuvee Anonyme. Always from many of his same sources and from the oldest vine fruit, the Anonyme is an exquisite wine that shows the depth of fruit that Xavier loves but always has an undercurrent of finesse that keeps the wines balanced and cellar worthy. The 2019 is the newest release showing saturated flavors of blackberry, fig jam, toasted herbs and a panoply of spices. It is complex and inviting and shows all the hallmarks of the power of the 2019 vintage. But, there is that streak of finesse on the palate. The tannins are integrated, the acidity keeps the wine lifted and never heavy across the palate. Yet another triumph from one of our best vignerons!