CDP La Crau Ouest, Domaine Santa Duc 2020

Striking nose of the ripest strawberries with delicate notes of dried flowers and spice. In spite of the tremendous richness and structure this remains delicate and refined. Super-long finish in which the mineral and licorice characters are beautifully interwoven. A pure grenache from 100-year-old vines growing on sandy soil. 75% whole bunch. Matured only in clay amphora. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Limited production. Drink or hold.

All Grenache from more sandy portions of the La Crau lieu-dit, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Crau Ouest offers a bright, sappy style in its cherry, rose petal, and red plum-driven aromatics. Fresh, focused, and very pure and precise, it has a firm, austere edge, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. Give it a few years and enjoy over the following 10-12+ years.While located in Gigondas, Domaine Santa Duc, now under the helm of Benjamin Gras, releases a bevy of outstanding Châteauneuf du Pape that are based on different terroirs in the appellation. The wines see a touch of whole cluster fermentation and the aging is primarily in foudre, with some of the wines seeing clay jars aging as well. These show vibrant, fresh, almost crunchy profiles that I suspect will benefit from a handful of years in the cellar. (Drink between 2022-2035)