2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Sablons

The dark ruby/garnet-colored 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Sablons reveals a powerful, intense bouquet of sweet kirsch liqueur intermixed with pepper, raspberries, seaweed and loamy soil notes. Undeniably sexy, opulent and voluptuously textured with full body and no hard edges, it is a glorious tour de force in old vine Grenache from sandy soils. Drink it over the next 15+ years. This is a joint project between American importer Peter Weygandt and Baptiste Grangeon of Domaine du Cristia. All three parcels utilized for these wines are dominated by sandy soils, and are biodynamically farmed. The intention is to showcase old vine Grenache grown in sandy soils, bottle the wine without fining or filtration, and age it in old small oak barrels, or in the case of Le Grand Pin and La Guigasse, in 600-liter demi-muids. Yields are frightfully low as they are trying to capture the essence of these sites. Yields for 2010 were 12-14 hectoliters per hectare, and in 2011, they were slightly higher, but still very low for what was a generous crop. I am not sure if they made a 2011 Les Sablons, but if they did, it was not presented for tasting. While this estate’s track record is relatively brief, the wines to date have been nothing short of brilliant. Last year I went ga-ga over the unbottled 2010s and now that they have been bottled, that excitement is more than justified. Importer: Peter Weygandt, Weygandt-Metzler, Unionville, PA; tel. (610) 486-0800

The entry level wine that is made from second press juice from the single plot cuvees, the 2010 Chapelle St. Theodoric Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Sablons is nevertheless a rocking 2010 that is loaded with southern Rhone character and charm. All Grenache from sandy soils and fermented with 100% whole cluster, it exhibits fantastic aromas of herbs de Provence, spice-box, and flowers that are all supported by a core of wild strawberry and kirsch-driven fruit. Full-bodied and rich on the palate, with an overriding elegance, as well as excellent concentration and plenty of fine tannin, this knockout value will shine for 12-15 years. While the single vineyard wines are slightly more impressive, the value buy is this one.