Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve 2016

100 points Joe Czerwinski (Wine Advocate): "A 60-40 blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre from the lieux-dits of La Guigasse and Pignan, I'm happy to say the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape La Reserve has come in at the top end of my expectations for it. They produced 6,136 bottles of this elixir, which offers magical aromas of mixed berries, roses and exotic spices. It's full-bodied and weightless at the same time, boasting waves of silky, caressing, seductive tannins and an incredibly long finish. Despite its light touch, it seems assured of evolving over a couple of decades. Sheer gossamer perfection! Drink: 2020-2040. (8/31/18)"

99 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The flagship is the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve, the classic blend of 60/40 Grenache and Mourvèdre brought up in demi-muids. Blackberries, currants, black cherries, scorched earth, spice, and beautiful minerality all emerge from this full-bodied beauty that shows the more seamless, elegant style of this estate beautifully. It's more backward, concentrated, and reserved than the Les Quartz release, yet has more density and concentration as well as elegance. I was able to taste this beauty twice and rated it perfect on one occasion and a mere 98 points on another. Give it 3-4 years and enjoy over the following 15-20 years. Drink: 2021-2041. (8/28/18)"

97 points Josh Raynolds (Vinous): "Full bright-rimmed ruby. Ripe red and dark berries, incense, Moroccan spices and candied flowers on the expansive, seductively perfumed nose; a smoky mineral accent adds vivacity. Sappy, alluringly sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering pure, deeply concentrated cherry, Chambord, cola and spicecake flavors that become more energetic as the wine opens up. Densely packed and seamless in texture, finishing with remarkable power, resonating spiciness and building but discreet tannins. As is the case with its Quartz stablemate, this wine is among the standouts of this exceptional vintage. Drink: 2025-2036. (Jul 2018)"

96 points Wine Spectator: "This has the ripe, pure and racy profile of the vintage, sporting a long beam of raspberry, plum and cherry pâte de fruit flavors scored with floral, incense and tea notes along the way. Fresh acidity lets the elements ripple nicely through the finish. A beauty. Best from 2020 through 2040. 470 cases made, 42 cases imported. (11/30/18)"

96 points James Suckling: "Some sexy, smoky complexity across ripe, dark-cherry, blueberry and dark-plum aromas. This is seductive. Tannins engulf the ample, fleshy, ripe, dark plums and cherries with sleek, silky, caressing style. Thrilling Châteauneuf! From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. (7/7/18)"

95 points Andrew Jefford (Decanter): "Clos du Caillou’s Réserve wine comes from sandy soiled holdings in Pignan and Guigasse. The blend here is Grenache with around 35% Mourvèdre. After a 33-day maceration, 88% of the wine is aged in demi-muids, and 12% in amphorae. It’s another deep yet translucent wine with the sweetly mellow, warm-wind aroma profile typical of wines grown on sand. Dry thyme and underbrush scents mingle with graceful cherry and pomegranate fruits. On the palate this is the most overtly masterful and thrusting of all the sand-grown wines I tried, perhaps because of the Mourvèdre component, but perhaps too because of the vintage effect. There's a smoky, nutty warmth lurking behind the sweet, beguiling fruits and intricate plant essences and the tannins are, unusually for wine from the sands, almost chewy. A magnificent mouthful. Drinking Window: 2019-2035. (4/2/18)"