Moving to the two Ch?teauneuf-du-Pape releases and 35% Mourv?dre, 25% Grenache, 8% Syrah, 12% Counoise, the rest other permitted varieties (Marc calls this a Mourv?dre vintage), the 2017 Ch?teauneuf-du-Pape sports an inky purple color as well as a textbook Mourv?dre nose of black, black fruits, smoked meats, crushed rocks, charcoal, and pepper. It's deep and full-bodied, with beautiful purity and building structure. Production is down 40%, but this brilliant wine is certainly in the same league as the 2016.