Staff Notes:

"Having first met Gilles Gasq through his work at Domaine Monpertuis in Chateauneuf du Pape, it is apt that he has circled back to the terroir where we made our first acquaintance. It has been Gasq’s dream to find a slice of the most esteemed terroir in the Southern Rhone, and as you can imagine the competition to purchase land in Châteauneuf du Pape can be fierce. Fortunately, in 2015, Gasq managed to purchase two adjacent parcels in the northern sector of the appellation. The two lieux dits, “Cabriéres” and “Pied de Baud” (Bois de Boursan also owns a parcel in Pied de Baud – it routinely is part of the “Cuvee Felix”) total 1.5 hectare and are comprised of 100% Grenache with an average age of 45 years. While they are nestled side by side, the two parcels are distinctly different: “Pied de Baud” has a sandy based soil, while “Cabriéres” is stonier, riddled with the larger galet stones for which Châteauneuf du Pape is known. Situated in the northern reaches of the appellation, these two sites are much cooler than the rest of the appellation, making a wine that is fresher and considerably less tannic. The grapes for this wine are partially destemmed (about 50%) and are fermented in stainless steel tanks for about 30 days before the wine is pressed. The wine is then racked and aged in a combination of stainless steel and large oak barrels for 18 months before being assembled and bottled." Importer Notes, Rosenthal Wine Merchant