2023 Chateauneuf du Pape Barbe Rac

Based on 100% Grenache from a single lieu-dit on the western side of the appellation, the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape Barbe Rac brings more purity, precision, and complexity compared to the Pie Vi cuvée. Kirsch liqueur, ground pepper, savory garrigue, and Provençal spices all shine on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, ripe, and round on the palate, with a seamless, sexy mouthfeel and ultra-fine tannins. It has a classic sweet core of Grenache fruit that will evolve beautifully over the coming two decades. Drink 2025-2045. Chapoutier continues to produce a wide range of wines across the Southern Rhône, from value-driven Côtes du Rhône and Lubéron bottlings to serious single-vineyard Châteauneuf-du-Papes. While they produce solid (and even outstanding) wines from Gigondas, Vacqueyras, and Rasteau, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape lineup is where things truly shine. The range includes the classic La Bernardine (80% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre), the 100% Syrah Serus (which unsurprisingly has a very Northern Rhône-like character), and three serious single-parcel wines: Pie Vi (95% Grenache, 5% Syrah), Barbe Rac (100% Grenache from the western side of the appellation), and Croix de Bois (100% Grenache from the eastern side). The newest addition is La Grenade, a 100% Grenache from a tiny parcel just outside the village that's fermented with 30% stems and shows an incredibly complex, Rayas-like elegance, and I don’t make that comparison lightly. The 2023 La Grenade is one of the few true "wow" wines in the vintage, and the 2024 looks equally impressive. These top Châteauneuf-du-Papes are world-class.