2013 Chateauneuf du Pape le Grand Pin
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Tasting notes
(aged for 14 months in used demi-muids ): Deep, vivid red. Highly perfumed aromas of fresh raspberry, candied cherry and blood orange are complemented by suggestions of potpourri and Asian spices. Smells like a ripe Pinot Noir. Broad and silky on the palate, offering vibrant, spice-tinged red berry and floral pastille flavors and hints of allspice and star anise. Expands and deepens on the extremely long, focused finish, which features well-knit tannins and repeating floral pastille and spice qualities.
Critic scores
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Josh Raynolds
Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
In the same league, the 2013 Châteauneuf du Pape le Grand Pin sports a light ruby color to go with the sappy flower, rose petal, kirsch and stony minerality that this cuvée always shows. Elegant, seamless, medium to full-bodied and laser focused on the palate, it is one of the more tight, energetic and structured cuvées in the vintage. Like the La Guigasse, it comes from 50-year-old Grenache vines that are located in the Pignan lieu-dit, sees no destemming, and is raised all in older demi-muids. Short term cellaring should be the name of the game here.