Boasting the darkest fruit of the three 2018s from Saint-Préfert, the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Collection Charles Giraud delivers notes of black cherries and dark chocolate, plus hints of wintergreen, cassia bark and baking spices. It's full-bodied but less expansive on the palate than the others, compact and dense without being heavy or overdone, and it's framed by ripe but supportive tannins. Mexican chocolate and cola notes linger elegantly on the lasting finish.

Saturated ruby. Highly expressive, mineral-accented cherry and dark berry liqueur, cola, licorice and potpourri scents are complemented by an exotic spice nuance. Broad and fleshy in the mouth, offering deeply concentrated black raspberry, boysenberry and bitter cherry flavors that become sweeter and more lively as the wine opens up. Shows excellent clarity and floral lift and finishes extremely long and spicy, with steadily building tannins adding closing grip.