The magical 2012 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Sanctus Sanctorum is released only in magnums and comes from a small plot of very old vines in the La Crau lieu-dit. Brought up in demi-muids and medium ruby colored (it’s always lighter colored than both the Combes des Fous and Deus Ex Machina releases), it has an incredible bouquet of sweet kirsch and blackberry fruits intermixed with huge amounts of garrigue, exotic spices and pepper. Full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, expansive and broad on the palate, with no hard edges, it’s a heavenly, singular expression of Grenache that every reader needs to taste at least once in their life! It’s still young and has another 15-20 years of life ahead of it.

Saturated ruby. Explosive aromas of red fruit preserves, sandalwood, potpourri and cola, with a strong spicy overtone. Offers palate-coating raspberry and cherry compote flavors and suggestions of vanilla, spicecake and floral pastilles. Reaches every corner of the palate, displaying superb clarity and a seamless texture. Finishes sweet, broad and long, with supple tannins and an echo of candied lavender.