“This is a beauty with gently mulled raspberry and boysenberry fruit flavors gliding along and laced with licorice, floral, garrigue and incense notes. Lovely swirl of black tea through the finish as the fruit lingers. Offers a very solid, underlying structure too. Best from 2024 through 2038. 267 cases made, 100 cases imported.” Wine Spectator 96 Points
“My top pick among this estate’s 2019s is the all-Grenache 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Cornelia Constanza, a cuvée drawn from 100-year-old vines planted in a sandy sector of La Crau and matured in roughly equal parts tank, foudre and previously used barriques. It bursts from the glass in bold floral notes, entwined with herbal, tea-like nuances, ripe berries and licorice. Full-bodied, richly concentrated and silky in texture, it finishes with terrific length and intensity. It shows no sign of its considerable alcohol, which likely exceeds the labeled 15%. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.” Robert Parker 95+ Points
From century-old Grenache in a section of la Crau with safre-based soils, the Chateauneuf du Pape Cornelia Constanza was matured in concrete (60%) and foudre (40%). Explosive notes of black cherries and licorice mark the nose, while the full-bodied palate is ripe and welcoming without going over the top. You’ll want to watch the serving temperature carefully so it doesn’t get too warm, but the tannins are supple and silky. Dense and concentrated, this is serious stuff, with awesome length on the slightly chocolaty, spice-inflected finish. I wouldn’t bet on it aging more than a decade, but as an early-drinking mouthful of decadence, it’s tough to beat.