Great Châteauneuf-du-Papes from Chapelle St. Theodoric, Featuring the Superb 2015 "Le Grand Pin" and "Guigasse;" and 2010 Pierre André!
4/3/18 -
We were very excited a few years ago to discover some beautiful Chateauneuf-du-Papes at a tasting of wines imported by our old friend Peter Weygandt. The wines were aromatically complex and lovely, and were not heavy or over-extracted. There was fabulous density and length on the palate but with lightness and elegance in a Burgundan style - truly extraordinary and unusual! These have become our favorite Chateauneuf-du-Papes (along with Pierre André and Eric Texier!) - the estate is called Chapelle Saint-Theodoric, a project by Mr. Weygandt with winemaker Baptiste Grangeon. The domain is comprised of two parcels; one in the lieu-dit "La Guigasse," which is a pure sand soil and where the vines (all Grenache) range in age of from 50 to 100 years; and the other parcel at the top of Pignan, "Le Grand Pin," literally adjoining the vines of Chateau Rayas, also in pure sand and also pure, old vines Grenache. The farming is organic. There is a two to three week vinification, with the stems, with wild yeasts and minimal extraction. The wines are aged for two years in four to ten year-old 600-liter barrels and are bottled unfined and unfiltered. The wines are not inexpensive, but for lovers of elegance and finesse in the Rhone Valley, they are essential. In 2015, these two cuvées are simply outstanding and are on everyone's list of the finest Chateauneuf-du-Papes of this excellent vintage. We are also offering the 2012 and 2013 "Le Grand Pin" which are beautiful wines as well if from less exalted vintages - the 2012 showing great intensity in a lighter, elegant frame and the 2013 in the same style with a bit more weight and concentration. In 2014, due to the more forward style of the vintage, all of "La Guigasse" and some of "Le Grand Pin" were bottled as "les Sablons" - this is an oustanding Chateauneuf for early drinking and is available in half-bottles for only $21.99! The 2015 "Le Grand Pin" and "La Guigasse" are very limited in quantity so don't delay in putting away some of these superb wines...
Jacqueline André at Domaine Pierre André has very old vines, averaging 70 years old with some parcels over 130, mostly in Les Gardioles, Les Bédines, L`Etang, Les Saumades, Chapouin, Pignan and Guigasse on a mix of sandy clay and galet stones. The estate has been organic since the 1960s with biodynamic certification in 1992. The grapes are not de-stemmed and elevage is in concrete tanks and old barrels. The Pierre André wines share some characteristics with Chapelle Saint Theodoric, with parcels in Pignan and Guigasse, and whole-cluster fermentations. The long-time biodynamic farming and old vines give this wine a remarkable complexity and depth, with consistent quality in every vintage, making this one of the very greatest Chateauneufs. At the end of last January's tasting with Jacqueline André, she generously poured us a taste of the wonderful 2010 vintage - a wine that approaches perfection, and that will be a superb experience if held for another ten years. Ms. André generously offered us a small allocation - three bottle limit please. The Chateauneuf-du Pape Blanc produced by Jacqueline André is also among the finest of the appellation. Produced from from one hectare of vines - 40% Clairette planted in the 1920s, with 30% Bourboulenc, 20% Roussanne and 10% Grenache Blanc, this is a full-bodied, gorgeous wine to drink now and over the next fifteen years.
