Domaine Giraud Domaine Giraud Grenaches de Pierre Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2019 750ml

Everything’s in perfect harmony in this floral, stunning red. Offers plum, cherry cobbler, incense and lavender supported by a line of racy minerality, savory earth notes and cooling, mouthwatering acidity. This has real energy driving the length, with black tea and potpourri accents all seamlessly adding layers. Stunning. Best from 2025 through 2040. 70 cases imported. (Kristen Bieler)

From centenarian Grenache vines grown on sandy soils in La Crau and Pignan, the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Grenaches de Pierre is a perfumed beauty, redolent with hints of fennel, roses, orange zest and ripe cherries. Matured solely in concrete, there’s no oak influence, just a purity of fruit expression borne on a full-bodied but nearly weightless palate. Silky and long on the finish, this tour de force should still be drinking well in a decade.

Lastly, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Grenaches de Pierre is all Grenache from old vines and sandy soils brought up mostly in tank. A rock star Grenache-driven bouquet of kirsch liqueur, licorice, Provençal herbs, flowery incense, and spice gives way to a full-bodied 2019 with brilliant tannins, a seamless texture, no hard edges, and a great finish. Its balance as well as purity of fruit are just about off the charts, and this is heavenly Châteauneuf du Pape all the way. I think it will offer plenty of upfront charm, but smart money is on 2–3 years of bottle age and following it over the ensuing 10–15 years.

Lastly, the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Grenaches de Pierre offers slightly more purity and elegance, yet certainly doesn’t come up short on power or concentration. Stunning black cherries, currants, underbrush, ground pepper, and earthy, rocky mineral notes all give way to a deeper, darker, rich, concentrated wine that’s going to benefit from 2–4 years of bottle age. It will see its 20th birthday in fine form.

This has a nice sleek core of cassis and cherry paste flavors that show tension and cut, while notes of sandalwood, red tea and garrigue filter in throughout. A long, subtle sanguine thread laces up the finish. Approachable, but there’s also lots of intrigue that bodes well for cellaring. Drink now through 2036. 250 cases made, 70 cases imported. (James Molesworth)

Drawn from sandy soils in the lieux-dits of La Crau and Pignan, the all-Grenache 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Grenaches de Pierre features wiry, herbal threads sewn into a fabric of tart cranberries and raspberries. It’s full-bodied and tannic, needing a few years to loosen up. Ultimately, it should reward the patient with a complex, silken tapestry of flavors. (Joe Czerwinski)

Still in concrete at the time of my visit, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Grenaches de Pierre looks to be another prodigious effort. Gorgeous aromas of stone fruit and ripe cherries mingle easily with intricate notes of garrigue and pine needles in a wine that’s somehow full-bodied yet ethereal on the palate, with a long, tart, almost cranberry-ish finish. As always, it’s sourced from old-vine Grenache in the sandy soils of Pignan, Charbonnière and Mourre de Gaud, all clustered northeast of the village of Châteauneuf du Pape.

Also beautiful, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Grenaches De Pierre is all Grenache from cooler, sandy soils, and it’s raised primarily in foudre and tank. Black raspberry, cassis, spring flowers, wild strawberries, toasted spice, and graphite all emerge from the glass, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a layered, flawlessly balanced mouthfeel, brilliant tannins, and a great finish. It’s up with the crème de la crème of the vintage and should be snatched up by savvy readers.

Another beautiful wine from this family estate, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Grenaches De Pierre comes from a sandy portion of the famed La Crau lieu-dit (near Charbonnière) and is all Grenache brought up in tank and demi-muid. It too reveals a lighter ruby color as well as a heavenly perfume of dried flowers, incense, herbes de Provence, and peppery garrigue as well as kirsch and framboise-like fruits. With medium to full-bodied richness, no hard edges and a seamless texture, it’s ideal for enjoying any time over the coming 10–12 years, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it age a little longer. (Jeb Dunnuck)

This is packed with steeped raspberry and blackberry fruit flavors, laced with hints of mulling spice, incense and rooibos tea. The fine-grained finish reveals alder and garrigue echoes. Shows a lovely mouthfeel throughout and latent depth on the finish. Best from 2021 through 2036. 200 cases made, 90 cases imported. (James Molesworth)

Deep shimmering ruby-red. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and dark berries, exotic spices and candied flowers, and a smoky mineral nuance emerges as the wine opens up. Alluringly sweet and open-knit, offering juicy Chambord, boysenberry and lavender pastille flavors, along with hints of star anise and bitter chocolate. Smooth and seamless in texture, showing superb finishing energy, harmonious tannins and sharp delineation.