Chapelle St. Theodoric CdP Le Grand Pin 2015 (750ML)

98 DE / 96-98 WA / 93-95 VM / 94 JD

Magic perfume – a Pinot-styled symphonic nose. Silken, beguiling palate with beautiful detail. This is ace! Drinking Window 2020 - 2037. Decanter Magazine

These Grenache vines in the Rayas lieu-dit are only 35 years old, but the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Le Grand Pin was singing in full voice when I tried a prebottling sample. Lovely floral and garrigue notes accent the ripest cherries on the nose, while the palate is remarkably airy and delicate with a nearly endless, silky finish. This joint venture between Baptiste Grangeon of Domaine de Cristia and American importer Peter Weygandt draws fruit from three hectares of land Weygandt owns in the La Guigasse and Rayas lieux-dits. The wines are 100% Grenache and vinified as whole clusters before being aged for 24 months in demi-muids. The 2015s were to be bottled on October 9th, just about one month after I tasted them. Joe Czerwinski – The Wine Advocate

(raised in neutral demi-muids) Brilliant ruby. Explosive red berry liqueur and spicecake aromas are complicated by suggestions of smoky minerals, incense and floral pastilles; a subtle hint of licorice emerges with air. Juicy and deeply concentrated yet lithe, offering sweet black raspberry, cherry cola and floral pastille flavors and a refreshing jolt of peppery spices. The strikingly long, focused finish features resonating florality and supple tannins that fold effortlessly into the clinging, sappy fruit. Josh Raynolds – Vinous Media

I loved the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Le Grand Pin and this flagship cuvée (100% Grenache) comes all from the northern part of the Pignan lieu-dit and spent 24 months in demi-muids. It offers a crazily perfumed bouquet of strawberries, pine resin, white pepper and green herbs that continues to change in the glass. This gives way to a full-bodied, seamless 2015 that has impeccable balance, terrific mid-palate depth, and polished tannin. If I had to pick one wine that comes closest in style to Rayas, this would be it. Chapelle Saint Theodoric is the estate of well-known importer Peter Weygandt and the wines come from two lieux-dits; Pignan and Guigasse. Made by Baptiste Grangeon of Domaine de Cristia, the wines are not destemmed and brought up all in older barrels. If there’s a Rayas look-alike out there, this is it. Jeb Dunnuck