Chapelle Saint Théodoric "La Guigasse" 2023

My favorite of the 2023s here, the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Guigasse offers up ripe black cherries, mulberries, Provençal garrigue, and spicy, peppery nuances. Based on 100% Grenache from the sandy soils of the La Guigasse lieu-dit and aged 24 months in 500-liter barrels, it's medium to full-bodied and has a broad, layered mouthfeel, velvety tannins, and a great finish. With roughly 400 cases produced, this beauty will drink well over the coming decade. Drink 2025-2035. While the Chapelle Saint Théodoric wines are made by Baptiste Grangeon of Domaine de Cristia, the wines are dramatically different in style and are mostly not destemmed (the base Les Sablons can be destemmed) and aged in older, larger oak barrels. These are much more perfumed, floral, elegant wines, and I always find a Burgundy-like character. The La Guigasse comes from a single lieu-dit of sandy soils, while Le Grand Pin is from the sandy soils of the Pignan lieu-dit in the north of the appellation. In general, the Les Sablons and La Guigasse are the most approachable, with Le Grand Pin always requiring additional bottle age to show at its best.

Seductive and pronounced blood orange, grapefruit, rosewater, ripe raspberry, wild strawberry and herbal nuances launch the perfumed 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Guigasse. Constructed around smooth tannins, the medium- to full-bodied 2023 is stunningly fresh and ends with remarkable length on the focused finale. I can’t wait to taste it from bottle.

Quite distinct from the estate’s classic cuvée, the 2023 La Guigasse - Saint Théodoric is notably riper and more brooding than its 2022 counterpart. It opens with a rich bouquet of spices, dark chocolate, fresh thyme and dark berries. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and concentrated, it’s structured around a supple, gently oaky mid-palate and concludes with a long, spicy finish that shows a touch of warmth on the back end. Sourced entirely from old-vine Grenache Noir planted on sandy soils, it was vinified with whole bunches and matured for 24 months in large oak barrels. This is a more powerful, heady expression of La Guigasse, though it remains true to the domaine’s traditional sensibility.