The 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape les Grenaches de Pierre is in the top 5-10 wines in the vintage. Coming from a single plot of sandy soils in La Crau and made from 100% Grenache, it knocks it out of the park with its black raspberry, cassis, lavender, licorice and smoked earth-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, seamless and elegant, it has awesome purity, no hard edges and building tannin. It’s already hard to resist, but will drink nicely through 2027.

Inky ruby. A highly aromatic bouquet evokes candied red fruits and cherry-cola, complicated by suggestions of smoky minerals, fresh flowers, cinnamon and suave oak spices. Deep, round and expansive, offeringsweet, highly concentrated dark fruit flavors, lively minerality and a hintof floral pastilles. A rich and powerfulyet graceful wine, boasting exceptional balance and strong finishing cling.