A special cuvée for the American importer, the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Girard includes a bit more old-vine Grenache than the regular CdP commercialized elsewhere. The fruit skews darker in this bottling this vintage, revealing notes of black cherries and blueberries. It's full-bodied and slots in texturally somewhere between velvet and silk, with ample length, balance and harmony. Tasted blind.

The 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Girard hadn't been blended when I visited the estate last year, so this bottled sample was my first look at the cuvée for the American importer. It closely mirrors the regular bottling, but typically includes a bit more old-vine Grenache. The nose is similar, offering up hints of dried spices, earth and black cherries, but the feel on the full-bodied palate is richer and more enveloping, with a creamy-velvety texture that flows seamlessly onto the long, plush finish.

A special cuvée made for American importer Peter Weygandt, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Girard includes a bit more old-vine Grenache, and it shows in the wine's increased elegance. It's more floral than the regular bottling, with scents of tea and roses, but it's also darker and richer, with black cherry fruit, a velvety mouthfeel and a long, layered finish.

The 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Girard is blended exclusively for American importer Peter Weygandt and is bottled unfiltered. It's about 90% Grenache and delivers a compelling mix of fragrant raspberries and savory, earthy spices. It's full-bodied and plush, with a long, complex finish that suggests it will age well for a decade or more. It's powerful and concentrated yet feels fresh and lively.

The stunning 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Girard is blended exclusively for the American importer, Peter Weygandt, and bottled unfiltered. It's about 85% Grenache, with the balance made up of Mourvèdre, Counoise and Cinsault. What makes it so compelling is the combination of fragrant raspberries, sinewy tannins and silky finish, all of which suggest it will age well for 20 years after the vintage. It's powerful, concentrated and yet feels fresh and lively.