A food-friendly Southern Rhône red blend that shines with enticing notes of fresh fruit and earth.

A blend of 45% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 25% Syrah made without new oak, the 2016 Pape Star is pale to medium ruby-purple with bright scents of cranberry sauce, crushed blueberries, warm red cherries and blackberry candy with notions of crushed rock, garrigue, dried flowers, charcuterie and woodsmoke. Medium-bodied with tricolored fruit in the mouth plus herbal and meaty touches, it has soft, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long. 92 pts  — Robert Parker