Perhaps a bit lighter than other recent vintages, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape les Galets Blonds features attractive, complex aromas of orange zest, raspberries and dried spices. It's medium to full-bodied, taut and juicy, with a long, mouthwatering finish.

The 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape les Galets Blonds features seductive notes of garrigue, raspberries and peppery spice. It's full-bodied, creamy-textured and silky on the finish—another successful vintage for this cuvée, which may be consumed now and over the next decade.

Far superior is the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Galets Blonds, which is always one of Lesec’s finest wines, and this particular cuvee, which is largely Grenache blended with small amounts of Syrah and Mourvedre, is aged in tank (70%) and one to two-year-old Burgundy barrels (30%). It exhibits a deep ruby/purple color as well as classic Provencal notes of licorice, garrigue, black currant and kirsch. Broad, savory, multilayered and full-bodied, this impressive selection should drink well for 10-15 years. Over the last few years, Patrick Lesec has been reducing the size of his portfolio. I don’t know whether he is narrowing his focus, or looking forward to his retirement, but there are certainly many fewer cuvees than there were a decade ago. Nevertheless, the overall quality of his work in the southern Rhone remains very good. This is also a source for some terrific values, as evidenced by the following two wines.Importer: Chemin des Vins, Sherborn, MA; tel. (508) 545-1532, who distributes to wholesalers in 20 different states. Readers are advised to call them for availability in their region.

The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Galets Blonds includes 90% Grenache from nearly 100-year-old vines blended with 10% Syrah from the renowned sector in the eastern part of the appellation known as Le Crau. This brilliant offering displays black raspberry, black cherry, floral, forest floor, underbrush, and cassis characteristics along with superb concentration, an opaque purple color, a gorgeously intense, multidimensional mouthfeel, and a sensational finish. I have long been a big fan of this cuvee, having bought and cellared vintages from the late nineties through 2001, and those wines took 3-4 years to develop, and are aging beautifully. The 2007 is potentially one of the best Lesec has yet made. It should drink well for 10-15 years. The stars in Patrick Lesec’s porfolio are the superb Chateauneuf du Pape cuvees he fashions, but there are also some stunning bargains for shrewd consumers. By the way, Lesec chose not to produce any Chateauneuf du Papes or Gigondas in 2008.Importer: Chemin des Vins, Sherborn, MA; tel. (508) 545-1532, who distributes to wholesalers in 20 different states. Readers are advised to call them for availability in their region.