Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine de Marcoux 2009

We started the retrospective with the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape, which is a wine I've always loved from this estate. About as Provencal as they come, with tons of herbes de Provence, sweet cherries, garrigue, incense and spice, it has full-bodied richness, a big core of sweet fruit and a layered texture. Count yourself lucky if you have a case of this in the cellar. I'd happily drink it today, but it has another 15+ years of prime drinking.