Chapelle St. Theodoric 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Sablons

Chappelle St. Theodoric - a project of winemaker Bapiste Grangeon and Peter Weygandt - has quickly become one of our favorite Southern Rhône producers. The domaine is comprised of two parcels of Grenache vines (each ranging in age between 50-100 years): La Guigasse, a soil of pure sand, and Le Grand Pin, a terroir of pure sand at the top of Pignan - and famously neighboring Château Rayas. "Les Sablons" is Grenache from both parcels, which sees whole-cluster vinification, and aging in demi-muids. The 2016 is a bolder and richer vintage than most: it will still carry the aromatics and floral traits of Chapelle St. Theodoric's wines, yet with beautiful undercurrents of black raspberry, red flowers, fresh red cherry and a long finish of cassis and bright plum. An elegant wine that can be aged for quite some time, or enjoyed now after an hour decant. -JDC