Rotem & Mounir Saouma Châteauneuf-du-Pape Arioso 2021

Rotem and Mounir Saouma make this Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Grenache grown on the warm, stony soils of the southern Rhone, where rounded galets and sandy clay store and radiate heat to ripen the grape fully. Grenache here gives generous red fruit, a soft tannin and naturally high alcohol, reaching 14.5 percent, balanced by the producer's fresher, more measured house style. The Mediterranean climate and the mistral wind that dries and cools the vineyards concentrate the fruit while keeping the wine from going jammy. Ageing runs 18 months in oak barrels, where slow oxygen exchange softens the tannin and integrates the alcohol, adding spice rather than heavy wood. The colour is deep ruby. The nose shows red berries, plum, black pepper, liquorice and the dried garrigue herbs of the region over a warm, earthy base. The palate is full bodied and rich, the tannin soft and ripe, the acidity present enough to keep it fresh, the finish long and spiced. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees, decanted an hour ahead, with roasted and slow-cooked meats.