The Château Mont-Redon Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2022 is a dark-fruited, Grenache-led red from the southern Rhône Valley, carrying real concentration without tipping into heaviness. Firm and spicy rather than plush, it is a Châteauneuf-du-Pape built for the table and for the cellar.

Violets and lavender lift over dark wild berries, black cherry and a curl of woodsmoke, with dried thyme and cracked pepper filling in behind. Grenache Noir sets the fruit weight, while Syrah and Mourvèdre bring the darker, more savoury edges — tapenade, iron, a hint of cured meat.

Medium to full-bodied across the palate, the 2022 has an assertive tannic frame that turns velvety through the middle, with the drought and heat of the season showing as depth of fruit rather than sweetness. Matured with only a small proportion in new barrels and the balance in older barrels and foudres, it keeps its shape and finishes long, spicy and clean.

Pour it with slow-cooked lamb shoulder, beef cheeks in red wine, duck with olives, or a mushroom and thyme risotto. Hard sheep's milk cheeses work well once the bottle has been open an hour.

Drinking well from 2026 through to roughly 2036. Decant an hour ahead if you are opening one young, as the tannins need a little air to settle into the fruit.