Chapelle Saint Theodoric Grand Pin 2014

Description

Chapelle St. Theodoric is a project between winemaker Baptiste Grangeon and Peter Weygandt. There are two parcels; one in the lieu-dit La Guigasse, which is a pure sand soil and where the vines (all Grenache) range in age of from 50 to 100 year; and the other parcel at the top of Pignan, literally adjoining the vines of Chateau Rayas, also in pure sand and also pure, old vines Grenache. The vinification is traditional, that is to say, whole-cluster, such as employed by Jacques Reynaud at Chateau Rayas, Laurent Charvin, Henri Bonneau. The two parcels are vinified and aged and bottled separately, but with the exact same treatment, the experiment being to find what terroir differences one might find in pure sand, between vines less than 200 meters apart, both on sand, pure Grenache and traditional vinification. The result has been a most exciting and successful experiment: The difference between the wines from these two parcels is clear and distinct. La Guigasse is the slightly richer of the two. The Grand Pin, perhaps because the sand is nearly pure white, perhaps the higher elevation or due to some other factor we have not yet determined, makes a wine that is lower in alcohol, more perfumed and finer.

2014 CdP from Peter Weygandt: I usually think of this wine as one to age for five to ten years, but this 2014 is impressive in its openness. Cherries, spiced tea, roses and violet aromas. Bright acid but structured tannins – crunchy red fruit. Floral complexity for sure, and lots of mineral and herbal intrigue. Beautiful wine that should open up nicely over the next three to six years, but seems more accessible in the near term.