2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Héritages

Owners AdVini have made plenty of capital investment here, most obviously in the form of a state-of-the-art cellar in a tranquil spot just off the road to Courthézon and abutting a wildlife preserve. No expense has been spared, and the facility, which was built within the walls of an ancient monastery, is tricked out with large, concrete “tulip” tanks, open-top wooden fermenters and high-end barrels. It shows in the wines, which have been of consistently solid and increasing quality starting with 2015, the first vintage made in the new cellar. These ‘16s lead solidly with their fruit, tannin levels are well-managed and the wines show impressive polish and approachability. This is clearly a producer to follow closely in the coming years.