Chapelle St. Theodoric CdP La Guigasse 2020 (750ML)

95-97 WA / 93-95 JD

Scents of roses, garrigue and blackberries mark the nose of the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape La Guigasse, still aging in demi-muids at the time of my visit. It's one of those special wines that manages to be full-bodied and concentrated, yet also pillowy-soft, nearly ethereal in the mouth. A bit more tannic and stern on the finish than the 2020 Le Grand Pin, it finishes long, with a lingering note of licorice.—Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate

The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Guigasse is cut from the same cloth, with a big, spicy bouquet of ripe black cherries, Asian spice, Provençal garrigue, and sappy flowers. It's rich, medium to full-bodied, has a great mid-palate, and a seamless texture. It's a big mouthful of classic Southern Rhône goodness that can be drunk today or cellared for 10-15 years. As with the Grand Pin, this is all non-destemmed Grenache that comes from the La Guigasse lieu-dit (also sandy soils) and is brought up all in used demi-muids. Readers who love complex, elegant, more finesse-driven examples of Châteauneuf du Pape should jump on these Chapelle Saint Théodoric releases. Made by Baptiste Grangeon, the wines come all from sandy soils, see lots of whole clusters in the ferments, and are aged in older demi-muids.—Jeb Dunnuck