2022 Chapelle St. Theodoric, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Le Grand Pin

In certain vintages, I actually prefer this wine—from 35-year-old vines in Pignan (Nord)—to the La Guigasse. The 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape Le Grand Pin offers up compelling aromas of rose petals, exotic dried spices, cherries and raspberries. It's full-bodied and expansive in the mouth but somehow remains light and airy in feel, finishing with a wonderfully silky texture and awesome length.

100% Grenache. Whole-bunch fermentation. Aged for 24 months in demi-muids. Certified organic. Cask sample. Tasted blind. Quite shy on the nose, with red fruits and spice. Wonderful energy on the palate and a firm, taut backbone of sandy, fine-grained tannins. The sweet red-fruit mid palate is brimming with vibrancy and vitality and a savoury, earthy note underneath adds complexity. Effortless on the palate but with great concentration of fruit. (AC)