Similar to the base cuvée, yet with more of everything, the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes offers smoking notes of kirsch, black cherry liqueur, ground herbs, licorice and big minerality. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, seamless, pure and exceedingly elegant, all while carrying superb mid-palate concentration, plenty of tannic grip and a blockbuster finish. Drink this brilliant 2012 over the coming decade or more.