Domaine de Marcoux, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Vieilles Vignes 2011

Even more impressive and mostly likely one of the top 10-12 wines in the vintage, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is an up-front, sexy and perfumed blend of close to 100% Grenache. Possessing notions of kirsch liqueur, raspberry, creamy licorice and crushed flowers, it is full-bodied, nicely concentrated and has an overall hedonistic, seamless profile that's hard to resist. I don't think it will make old bones though, and it should be at its best during its first 10-12 years of life. Don't let that deter you though as this is one delicious thrill ride of Grenache. Drink now-2023.

The gorgeous 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is composed of 98% Grenache and small dollops of Cinsault and other varietals from 90- to 100-year-old vines grown in three sectors of Chateauneuf du Pape, La Crau, Gallimardes and Esquirons. Another candidate for the wine of the vintage, it is a full-bodied red revealing copious amounts of creme de cassis and black raspberries as well as a surprising viscosity and chewiness for the vintage. This superb wine should drink nicely for 10-15 years. It is a major sleeper of the vintage. 

One of the classic family-owned domaines in Chateauneuf du Pape of which there are many), Domaine de Marcoux is run by two dynamic sisters, Sophie and Catherine Armenier. The estate, which can trace its history back to 1344, has only been estate bottling since 1978. It owns over 40 acres, all of which have been biodynamically farmed since the early 1990s as this was one of the first properties to move to this strict style of farming. Both cuvees of Chateauneuf du Pape were made in 2011, and in a year that saw a relatively large crop, yields were reduced at Marcoux, averaging 22 liters per hectare. They had to do a Draconian-like triage on the grapes during the harvest. The 2010s are very successful at Domaine de Marcoux.