2020 Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape Porte du Ciel

Coming from arguably one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Languedoc, the La Clape AOC just outside of Narbonne, the 2020 Coteaux Du Languedoc La Clape Porte Du Ciel comes from Syrah vines planted in the early 1990s and was destemmed and brought up all in new barrels. This dense purple-hued effort offers up a gorgeous perfume of blackcurrant liqueur, black cherries, blueberries, smoke game, violets, and iodine, and the purity of fruit is truly spectacular. Blockbuster stuff in every way, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness and a deep, opulent mouthfeel that carries lots of ripe tannins, terrific mid-palate depth, and one incredible finish. Despite all its baby fat, there's ample underlying structure, and it has a terrific sense of freshness. Reminding me slightly of the 2016 with its mix of power and elegance, it's another tour de force in Syrah from this incredible estate.