La Bastide Saint Dominique Chateauneuf-du-Pape Secrets de Pignan 2017 (750ML)

96 WCI / 95 JD / 95 WE / 94 DE / 93-95 WA / 17+ JR

Spicy kirsch with fresh herbs on the nose and pure silky cherries on the palate hits all the right notes. Elegant and lifted, fresh and sweet, this is refined and pure. A bit of time in the cellar will add even more character and complexity. The wine is always produced using 100% old vine Grenache.-Jeff Leve, Wine Cellar Insider

Ripe, sexy notes of blueberries, black cherries, melted licorice, candied violets, and some loamy soil notes all flow to a powerful, ripe, opulent wine that has moderate acidity, ripe yet present tannins, and a great, great finish. This is one sexy Châteauneuf Du Pape that's already drinking nicely.-Jeb Dunnuck

Rich, plummy black cherry and dried strawberry flavors are edged by tart raspberry acidity in this fruit-focused, unoaked Grenache sourced from Châteauneuf-du-Pape's famed sandy soils. It's a thrilling, supple sip anchored by firm tannins that should integrate neatly as the wine matures over the next decade. Delicate hints of leather and white pepper kiss the finish. — Anna Lee C. Iijima, Wine Enthusiast

Sourced from south-facing vines approaching 100 years of age, grown on sand in the northern part of lieu-dit Pignan. The fruit is all destemmed and fermented, then aged in stainless steel for 18 months. The nose is a little closed at the time of tasting, with some herbal strawberry notes, no artifice. The palate is soft and yielding, with somewhat unstructured strawberry eau-de-vie and thyme flavours, despite ample tannins on the finish. The alcohol might be high, but this has the seductive purity of Châteauneuf fruit. Naturalistic.-Matt Walls, Decanter

All Grenache, all stainless steel, all pleasure, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Secrets de Pignan comes from the Pignan (Nord) lieu-dit. It couldn't be more different from the domaine's regular cuvée, boasting bright cherries and stone fruit up front, then a wonderfully full, lush mouthfeel and a long, silky finish. It should drink well for at least a decade.--Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate

Tasted blind. Strawberry and cherry fruit on the nose which has lovely sweet ripeness on the palate. Rounded tannins, full body and smooth, fleshy body. Great persistence to the fruit. Worthy of cellaring to coax out some complexity.-Richard Hemming MW, JancisRobinson