Famille Bréchet Plateau Des Chênes Le Temps 2016

A smaller production cuvée is the 2016 Lirac Plateau des Chenes Le Temps and it’s up with some of the top wines to ever come out of this appellation. Full-bodied, concentrated, elegant and with ample tannin, it gives up impressive notes of cassis, toasted spice and licorice. It has a touch of oak showing, but that should integrate nicely with a year or two of bottle age.

Scents of green olive and rosemary lend an earthen, herbal tone, but the palate of this 60/40 blend of Syrah and Grenache pulsates with powerful blackberry and cassis flavors. Vinified and matured without new oak, it's fruit-focused, muscular wine and ready to drink now through 2028.