A clear step up from the Les Olivets bottling in this vintage, the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve features scents of plum and dark chocolate. Full-bodied, dense and packed with potential, it's also creamy and supple and finishes long and velvety.

The floral and garrigue nuances in the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve are off-the-charts gorgeous, backed by concentrated black cherries and hints of dark chocolate. Full-bodied and intense, concentrated yet elegant, this is a terrific effort that should drink well for a decade. Soft, silky tannins wash over the tongue on the long-lasting finish, lending a certain gravitas to the overall experience and reinforcing that impression of longevity.

Inky in hue but resoundingly floral and packed with red berries and black cherries, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve is full-bodied and rich, yet it never seems heavy or overdone, with silky tannins and refreshing savory hints of herb, Asian spices and cracked pepper on the lengthy finish. It's probably the best value among the various cuvées this year. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.

Full-bodied and velvety, Sabon's 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve is a step up from the les Olivets bottling and probably represents the best value in the 2016 lineup. Tasted blind, it showcases ripe dark plum and cola but also super ripe Grenache notes of apricot and delicate hints of garrigue, then it turns rich and chewy on the long finish. It's 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah, matured in a mix of foudres and oak vats.