A stunning, velvety Chateauneuf-du-Pape
2008 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine la Roquète, Southern Rhône, France (£192.00 in bond per case, Berry Bros & Rudd, 0800-280 2440,
www.bbr.com
).
The 2008 Rhône en primeur season is upon us and Berrys hosted a fantastic tasting covering every wine from Condrieu to Vacqueyras, showing 16 different, world famous estates.
It appears that 2008 is not going to be a great vintage like 2007, but there were some beautiful, fragrant, fresh and forward drinking reds to be savoured, and I really like this style of red Rhône.
The prices seem fair, too, so if you have been out of the market for top syrah and grenache, then it is time that you reacquainted yourself with these styles. My pick of the best 2008 Domaines on show are: Gerin, Cuilleron, Rostaing, Tunnel, Jean-Louis Chave, Montirius, Beaucastel, Vieux Télégraphe and La Nerthe.
One of the most remarkable wines of the day was my chosen '08 Roquète – it has an amazing burst of mulberry and black cherry fruit on the nose and a stunning, velvety, inky palate. It sent a tingle down my spine, such was the beauty and poise at the core of this Châteauneuf.
If you favour the epée over the broadsword, then 2008 Rhône is for you!
● Matthew Jukes is a winner of the International Wine & Spirit Competition's Communicator of the Year.