Darker and more concentrated than the regular cuvée, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape les Grandes Grenachieres d'Hippolyte comes from old-vine Grenache in Cabrières and Palestor. Black cherries and notes of Asian five spice ratchet up the complexity, while the mouthfeel is full-bodied, plush and velvety. It should drink well through at least 2030.

Darker hued and more concentrated than the regular cuvée, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape les Grandes Grenachieres d'Hippolyte comes from old-vine Grenache in the Cabrières and Palestor lieux-dits. Full-bodied, plush and velvety, it delivers oodles of rich black cherry fruit, with a judicious dusting of spice box-like nuances on the long finish. It should drink well for at least a decade.

Showing more Grenache character than the Le Traversier, the 2014 Chateauneuf du Pape les Grandes Grenachieres d’Hippolyte is upfront and perfumed, with ample strawberry and perfumed red fruits, crushed herbs, licorice and dried flower-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, elegant, and seamless with fine tannin, it has outstanding length and plenty of potential. The blend is 98% Grenache and 2% other varieties, from the Cabrieres and Palestor lieux-dits, that was aged all in concrete tank.

Close in quality to the profound 2007 is the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Grandes Grenachieres d-Hippolyte. A stunning expression of old vine Grenache, it boasts abundant notes of raspberries, licorice and kirsch intermixed with hints of forest floor and underbrush. With good acidity, precision and freshness as well as a deep, full-bodied, voluptuously textured mouthfeel, this superb example of old vine Grenache should drink well for 15+ years. This tiny 10-acre estate run by Jean-Pierre Serguier produces 1,500 cases of Chateauneuf du Pape and around 350 cases of their super, old vine cuvee, Les Grandes Grenachieres d-Hippolyte, which is made from 85-year-old vines. These traditionally-made cuvees are aged in foudre or old barrels. Serguier has been managing this estate since 1981, although it dates from 1920. One of the few domaines that is outside of the Chateauneuf du Pape appellation, Simian is located in the garlic capital of France, the tiny village of Piolenc, a 10-minute drive from the village of Chateauneuf du Pape. Importer: Total Wine & More, Potomac, MD; tel. (301) 795-1080