Juliette Avril Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2008 - 20,20€; 14,5%; 10% was aged in big casks for eight months; "75% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre," according to Alko (addition can be challenging).
This was a pretty and a pretty decent little CdP! I quite enjoyed the 2007, too, since it lacked the super-ripeness of so many other Southern Rhône '07s I have tried. But to me, this '08 is in better balance still: ripe but crisp and refreshing red fruit, very typical unspoofulated Grenache-led aromas - the type that makes me understand the occasional reference to Grenache being a little bit similar to Pinot Noir; good grip and acidic enough to be moreish. Amazingly, this has 14,5% abv, but it doesn't come through. It seems like a pretty classic example of a CdP that isn't over-the-top.