Tasted prior to bottling, Fortia's 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape is a foudre-aged blend of 45% each Grenache and Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah. It offers up slightly herbal notes but more bright red fruit in the form of ripe cherries and pomegranate. It's full-bodied in the mouth, soft, silky and elegant, then slightly drying on the finish.

Fortia's 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape has some slightly tarry-rubbery notes on the nose to go along with tart cherries, hints of leather and dark chocolate. It's full-bodied—maybe even a touch warm—but not overly concentrated or intense, with supple, soft tannins and a silky feel on the finish.

The full-bodied 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape shows good intensity and freshness, with none of the super ripe notes that appear in the 2018. Raspberry and cherry notes lead the way, backed by hints of leather and even a bit of crushed stone. It's tightened up a bit over the past year, and the tannins lack the melted richness of the 2018, so give it another year in the cellar to mellow, but don't expect that to mean it will be particularly long lived.

The medium to full-bodied 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape is a blend of 50% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre and 25% Syrah. If features notes of cherries and leather and is put together in a smooth, supple format. It's well made, clean and reasonably charming, but it lacks intensity and richness. It will no doubt have plenty of fans for its early accessibility and smoothness.

A solid traditional cuvée, the 2013 Chateauneuf du Pape (70% Grenache, 18% Syrah and 12% Mourvèdre) offers lots of peppery herbs, ripe black cherries, hints of currants and garrigue to go with a medium-bodied, nicely textured and balanced style on the palate. It will have a decade of longevity.