A cool and collected style of Châteauneuf, mineral and elegant, no excesses. Well balanced, with the oak only faintly visible in the background. It elongates the wine however, adding a layer of complexity. This is measured and precise. Grown largely on galets roulés soils, also some sand and hard sandstone, on lieux-dits Bois Sénéchaux, La Crau and Grand Pierre. Fermented and matured in a variety of containers, mostly in tronconic vats and concrete tanks, with 15% of the maturation taking place in new barriques.

Hints of vanilla, menthol and cedar gently mark the nose of the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Grand Vin, which saw about 20% new oak in its élevage. There's plenty of raspberry and black cherry to balance out the ledger in this balanced, age-worthy effort. It's full-bodied and labeled a full 1% higher in alcohol than its Saintes Pierres sibling, with a rich, ripe mouthfeel, ample concentration and a long, velvety finish that adds hints of salted licorice. Tasty stuff.