98pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

In certain vintages, I actually prefer this wine—from 35-year-old vines in Pignan (Nord)—to the La Guigasse. The 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape Le Grand Pin offers up compelling aromas of rose petals, exotic dried spices, cherries and raspberries. It's full-bodied and expansive in the mouth but somehow remains light and airy in feel, finishing with a wonderfully silky texture and awesome length.

96pts Decanter

Relatively pale in the glass. Pine needles and rosemary, very much a garrigue herb inflected nose. Broad and mouthfilling, generous and juicy, with rich strawberry fruit, ending on a sandy mineral note. Well balanced despite its breadth and warmth. Luxurious, languorous style that will drink well young and old. 100% old vine Grenache grown on sand in lieu-dit Pignan, no destemming, aged for 24 months in old demi-muids. 3,200 bottles made.

96pts Jeb Dunnuck

The 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Le Grand Pin looks to be outstanding and brings more richness and depth than normal. Black raspberries, mulberries, sappy garrigue, pepper, and some mineral notes all shine in this beauty, which is medium to full-bodied, has a seamless mouthfeel, and enough tannic structure and acidity to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age. It's going to be brilliant.

95pts Vinous

Strawberry compote, pressed violets, orange blossom, raspberry and pinch of dried herbs unveil the alluring 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Le Grand Pin. Full-bodied, powerful and concentrated, the 2022 is almost at the end of its 24-month élevage in foudres, showing gentle structure. This is highly enjoyable and quite promising.

About the Winery

Chapelle St. Theodoric is a project between winemaker Baptiste Grangeon and Peter Weygandt. this cuvee from a parcel at the top of Pignan, literally adjoining the vines of Château Rayas, (which starts around $600-$1000 a bottle!)  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 Château Rayas, Laurent Charvin, Henri Bonneau.  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. This is one of the purest expression possible of grenache, very much reminiscent of Rayas, without the price tag.