Châteauneuf-du-Pape Le Pied de Baud 2017

The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Le Pied De Baud offers a deeper purple/ruby hue as well as a ripe, more up-front bouquet of red and blue fruits, ground pepper, violets, and more minerality, which comes through more on the palate. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and structured, give bottles a few years and enjoy over the following decade or more. This cuvée comes from the pebbly soils of the Pied de Baud lieu-dit, was partially destemmed, and is 80% Grenache and 10% each of Cinsault and Mourvèdre.

Ripe and fresh, with a racy edge to the mix of red currant, raspberry and damson plum coulis flavors, all supported by bright acidity and supple, fine-grained tannins, backed by floral mineral and rooibos tea notes on the mouthwatering finish.

A blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Cinsault from a classic red clay and galets roulés lieu-dit, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Le Pied de Baud hints at roses and star anise on the nose, then adds raspberry and cherry fruit. Less ephemeral and silky than the other CdPs in this stable, it's still a solid offering, being medium to full-bodied, sturdy and intense, with a rich, velvety feel and long finish.