2016 Chateau de Nalys Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2016 1500mL

96 POINTS

Anna Lee C. Iijima - Wine Enthusiast

2016 marks the first bottling of de Nalys under the Guigal umbrella and this intensely ripe but pristine wine makes a promising debut. It's luscious but elegant, loaded with rich black-plum and cassis flavors firmed by piquant hits of licorice and pepper. Silky tannins make it approachable already but the wine should improve through 2036 and hold further still.

95 POINTS

Joe Czerwinski - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Destined to become Nalys's new flagship (unless the white version steals the show), the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Grand Vin is a blend of 59% Grenache, 32% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, 3% Counoise and 1% Vaccarèse. It's full-bodied and velvety, offering hints of vanilla and sandalwood, but there also are layers of dark cherry fruit. Subtle notes of cinnamon, clove and allspice add interest to the long, silky finish. It's an auspicious debut for the Guigal team.

94 POINTS

Josh Raynolds - Vinous

Deep glistening violet. A highly complex bouquet evokes ripe red and blue fruits, exotic spices, incense and garrigue , and a smoky mineral topnote lends urgency. Stains the palate with sweet raspberry, boysenberry, fruitcake and succulent herb flavors that are sharpened by a spicy suggestion of white pepper. Shows outstanding clarity and dried-fruit-dominated persistence on the finish, which features sneaky tannins and resonating floral character. 70% concrete and 30% oak barrels of varying size.

93 POINTS

Wine Spectator

This is a fleshy and dense offering, with layers of warm cassis, plum sauce and cherry preserve flavors seamlessly entwined, while warm fruitcake and melted red licorice notes fill in through the finish. There's a whiff of smoky tea at the very end, while the fruit plays out.

93 POINTS

James Suckling

Very rich, multilayered Châteauneuf with ripe red-plum and dark-berry aromas. The palate has such intense and fresh, juicy-fruit drive. Long and focused finish.

92 POINTS

Matt Walls - Decanter

Vinified by the previous team at Nalys and blended by Guigal, this is already showing some detail and interest on the nose, and is considerably more concentrated and rich than Les Stes Pierres but retains a good sense of drinkability. It's full-bodied but well-shaped and structured, with fine tannins and good acidity. There's a mineral edge on the finish and a promising depth of fruit. A blend of 59% Grenache, 32% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, 3% Counoise and 1% Vaccarèse, yielding 35 hl/ha.

91 POINTS

James Suckling

Fresh, punchy apple and lemon and some real presence and phenolic weight on the palate. Dry, fresh and powerful appeal.

Huon Hooke - The Real Review

Reductive, stinky, earthy, leathery, rather gritty texture, drying and a bit short on fruit. Charred oak. Full-bodied, very firm and oaky and a little tough. Needs ages