A blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Habemus Papam boasts intriguing aromas of garrigue, fennel, roses and purple raspberries. It's medium to full-bodied and silky in texture, striking a fine structural balance between delicacy and tensile strength, with a long, mouthwatering, licorice-tinged finish.

A blend of several small parcels, this was my first chance to taste the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Habemus Papam out of bottle. It lives up to the high expectations I had for it out of foudre, combining lively red-berried fruit with silky-textured tannins. Raspberries and garrigue, dried spices and fine leather notes all feature on the nose and linger on the finish, while the palate is medium to full-bodied, yet virtually weightless at the same time.

The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Habemus Papam suffers only by comparison to the domaine's other micro-cuvées. It still delivers lovely cherry and stone fruit notes, medium to full body and ample concentration. The tannins are a bit grippier in this wine, so lay it down for a few years.

From a difficult vintage in Chateauneuf du Pape, the 2014 Chateauneuf du Pape Habemux Papam offers quality notes of garrigue, crushed flowers and perfumed red and black fruits. Medium-bodied, supple, forward and certainly enjoyable, it shows the more mid-weight style of the vintage, yet still has plenty to like. Most 2014s will evolve quickly, so it’s best drunk up in its youth.