Aged in old barrels for one year, the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a selection of Grenache from 50+ year old vines. The least evolved of these wines, it reveals a deep ruby/purple color along with notes of spring flowers, ground pepper, incense, forest floor, underbrush and sweet black currants and cherries. Concentrated, backward and broodingly powerful with more obvious tannin, this 2009 should be forgotten for 3-4 years and consumed over the following two decades. (Not yet released) The Brotte family was among one of the first to estate bottle Chateauneuf du Papes in the early 1930s. Over recent years, under the guidance of Laurent Brotte, the grandson of the founder, Charles Brotte, quality has improved dramatically. Additionally, they have brought in the renowned consultant, Philippe Cambie. Brotte is still best known for their non-vintage, solera blend of Chateauneuf du Pape called La Fiole, which is a huge commercial success. The quality is very good in spite of the phoney dust or the twisted and bent bottle. All of the wines I recently tasted with Laurent Brotte are classy, well-made, high quality efforts. Brotte seems to go largely unnoticed in the American market, but that should change based on what they have been accomplishing over recent vintages. Various American importers based on the state in which you live: www.brotte.com