2018 Chateauneuf du Pape le Grand Pin

Not yet bottled, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Le Grand Pin comes from a single parcel of old vine Grenache, was not destemmed, and was brought up in used barrels. It’s aptly named as it has plenty of piney, forest notes as well as lots of red and blue fruits, notes of spice and sappy garrigue, medium to full body, and a rounded, elegant texture. It’s beautifully balanced and shows the vintage’s more elegant, moderately concentrated style. While it’s going to evolve at a faster pace than top vintages, it will still offer loads of pleasure over the coming 10-15 years. The personal label of importer Peter Weygandt, with the wines made by Baptiste Grangeon of Domain de Cristia, Chapelle Saint Theodoric focuses on 100% Grenache from two lieux-dits, Le Grand Pin and La Guigasse. The wines are not destemmed and brought up all in old barrels, and these are classic, gorgeous wines. As I’ve written in the past, they come closest in my mind to Rayas as anything else out there. Both 2018 and 2019 are terrific vintages here, with the 2018s offering more upfront charm and the 2019s going to reward bottle age.

100% Grenache. Aged for 24 months in old oak. Cask sample. Tasted blind. Opulent black fruit with a candied edge and sweet spice too. Plenty of tannic grip on the palate leaves the finish astringent, but perhaps this is just a matter for time to resolve. Lingering peppery notes. (RH)