96pts Jeb Dunnuck

My favorite of the 2023s here, the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Guigasse offers up ripe black cherries, mulberries, Provençal garrigue, and spicy, peppery nuances. Based on 100% Grenache from the sandy soils of the La Guigasse lieu-dit and aged 24 months in 500-liter barrels, it's medium to full-bodied and has a broad, layered mouthfeel, velvety tannins, and a great finish. With roughly 400 cases produced, this beauty will drink well over the coming decade. Drink 2025-2035.

95pts Vinous

Seductive and pronounced blood orange, grapefruit, rosewater, ripe raspberry, wild strawberry and herbal nuances launch the perfumed 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Guigasse. Constructed around smooth tannins, the medium- to full-bodied 2023 is stunningly fresh and ends with remarkable length on the focused finale. I can’t wait to taste it from bottle.

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.