2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Safres

Bright red. Very fresh and intensely aromatic, projecting scents of red berries, lavender and spices, along with a hint of white pepper. Juicy and incisive, offering nervy strawberry and raspberry flavors lifted by a zesty spice nuance. This silky, seamless, lithe Chateauneuf finishes with impressive clarity and snap and might well pass for a ripe New World pinot noir.

Showing beautifully and in line with how it showed as a barrel sample, the 2009 Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Safres is 100% Grenache that comes from the sandy soils of the Les Bédines lieu-dit and is aged in newer foudres for 18 months. Hedonistically styled yet maintaining a sense of elegance and class, it possesses loads of kirsch, lavender, meat juice, and crushed flowers aromas on the open, extroverted nose. Beautifully fruited and textured on the palate, with a silky, seamless mouth feel, full body, good acidity, sweet fruit, and a long finish that has very fine tannin, this beauty will put a smile on any Grenache lover’s face over the coming decade.

Bright ruby. Redcurrant, wild strawberry, smoke and minerals on the assertive nose. Silky and suave, with a seductive sweetness to its red fruit flavors and building spiciness. Broad but energetic wine that's sharpened by lively acidity and finishes with sweet tannins and very good length. This expressive wine is for all intents 100% grenache "but there are probably some other things mixed into the vines. Call it 99.99%" said Gaspard.