A solid négoce wine, Lavau's 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape—a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre, all said to be from sandy soils and aged in new barriques and stainless steel tanks—offers up ripe cherries on the nose, plus hints of vanilla and maple syrup. Full-bodied, ripe and supple, with a creamy, plush feel, this is easy to drink, while showing ample depth and charm.

Lavau's 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape is a bit leathery and cedary, with underlying notes of black cherries, cola and perhaps even hints of vanilla. It's medium to full-bodied, with supple tannins and a short, softly dusty finish—a solid, well-made red, even if it lacks real distinction.

A blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre, Lavau's 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape comes from the sandy soils of the Baratin lieu-dit. It offers perfumed notes of garrigue and cherries on the nose, followed by crisp, silky-textured red fruit and a medium to full-bodied feel on the palate. It should drink well for up to a decade.

There's a fair bit of new oak in this 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape, but the wine has absorbed it well. This medium to full-bodied blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre is fairly tannic yet smooth in texture and restrained in style, offering notions of milk chocolate, peanut and subtle cherry notes. Worth holding a year or two to give it time to relax and unclench.

The 2014 Chateauneuf du Pape is a juicy, charming and easy going effort that gives up lots of darker fruit, leafy herbs, licorice and lavender aromas and flavors. It’s best drunk over the coming 3-4 years