Chapelle St. Theodoric Chateauneuf-du-Pape Guigasse 2021

Critical Acclaim: 97 pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate; 95 pts Jeb Dunnuck. 

About the Winery: Chapelle St. Theodoric is a project between winemaker Baptiste Grangeon and Peter Weygandt. There are 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 year; and the other parcel at the top of Pignan, literally adjoining the vines of Château Rayas, also in pure sand and also pure, old vines Grenache. The vinification is traditional, that is to say, whole-cluster, such as employed by Jacques Reynaud at Château Rayas, Laurent Charvin, Henri Bonneau. The two parcels are vinified and aged and bottled separately, but with the exact same treatment, the experiment being to find what terroir differences one might find in pure sand, between vines less than 200 meters apart, both on sand, pure Grenache and traditional vinification. The result has been a most exciting and successful experiment. The difference between the wines from these two parcels is clear and distinct. La Guigasse is the slightly richer of the two. The Grand Pin, perhaps because the sand is nearly pure white, perhaps the higher elevation or due to some other factor we have not yet determined, makes a wine that is lower in alcohol, more perfumed and finer. This is one of the purest expression possible of grenache, very much reminiscent of Rayas, without the price tag.

Tasting Notes: "From 75-year-old Grenache grown in sandy soils, the 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape La Guigasse was fermented as whole clusters and will spend two whole years in older demi-muids. On the nose, intriguing spice, herbal and savory notes provide a compelling counterpoint to the cherry and raspberry fruit, while the medium to full-bodied palate is concentrated and rather sappy, finishing bright, fresh and long. The wine of the vintage?"- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. 

"The 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Guigasse is also terrific, offering a perfumed nose of black raspberries, sappy herbs, flowers, and underbrush-like nuances. These all carry to a medium to full-bodied Grenache offering silky yet present tannins, wonderful balance, and a great finish. A stunning wine, I'd put it up with the stars of the vintage. It’s the usual 100% Grenache that’s not destemmed and is brought up in used demi-muids."- Jeb Dunnuck. 

Varietal: Grenache.