2016 Domaine Lafage Bastide Miraflors

94 pts Jeb Dunnuck

"A wine that almost always over-delivers, the 2016 Ctes du Roussillon Bastide Miraflors is, I suspect, the finest vintage for this cuve to date (its in the same league as the off-the-charts 2015). A blend of 80 Syrah and 20 Grenache from Lesquerde and Saint Martin de Fenouillet (both in the northern part of the Roussillon), aged all in older barrels and concrete tanks, it boasts rockstar notes of ripe blackberry fruits, spice, dried garrigue, and hints of chocolate. Possessing a full-bodied, layered mouthfeel, sweet tannins, and sensational purity, its another one of those values that almost seems too good to be true. Drink it any time over the coming 3-4 years."~J.D.