Cuvee alexis establet chateauneuf du pape 2020 (Domaine du Grand Tinel)

Drink now or cellar for up to 9 years. Decant 1 hour before serving. Originally founded in the late 1700s under the name Chateauneuf Calcernier, Domaine du Grand Tinel is actually one of the Southern Rhone’s oldest wineries and amongst the first to start bottling their own Chateauneuf du Pape wines in 1906. These days the domaine holds some 56 hectares of vines including some 100-year old Grenache and other plots of old vines which help to produce exceptionally complex and age worthy wines. Their Cuvee Alexis Establet was first produced in 1997 and is only produced during the best vintages. The wine is crafted from 100% old vine Grenache from the revered La Gardiole lieu-dit. Made in a modern style, the young wine is aged in a complex mixture of new French oak barrels, used barrels, and larger casks for up to 18 months. On the nose there are seductive aromas of plums soaked in brandy, figs, and crushed dark berries while the first sip reveals intense flavours of dark cherries, currants and raisins seasoned with hints of dried herbs and baked earth. Full-bodied and well-rounded on the palate, the complexity and intensity of this wine makes it a great contender for extended cellaring or pairing with heavy red meat dishes.