Domaine de Pignan, Coralie et Floriane 2022 – Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The wine has a ruby color of medium intensity, even pale, and very slight garnet reflections. The first nose is expressive and herbaceous, very savoury and complex, with a clear menthol dominance. It expresses notes of crushed wild mint, peppermint, eucalyptus, fresh sage, fresh rosemary, fresh thyme, roasted rosemary and fresh bay leaf. After aeration, we find the aromas of fresh pine nuts, pine needles, a very delicate touch of toasted wood, bitter almond, liquorice, coriander seeds and toasted cumin seeds, a touch vanilla and dark chocolate. Then, the wine offers ripe and juicy fruity aromas: crushed blueberry, black plum, wild strawberry, morello cherry, fresh strawberry and roasted red cherry, crème de cassis, as well as gourmet notes of chocolate with mint, prunes in chocolate in the background, as well as fresh peony, dried violet and rose. The palate is refined, delicate, but at the same time expressive and powerful. The attack is savoury, spicy and herbaceous: we find notes of roasted spices (coriander seeds, cumin seeds, a touch of fennel seed), roasted Mediterranean herbs (roasted rosemary, roasted thyme) and fresh herbs (fresh bay leaf, fresh rosemary), as well as expressive notes of wild mint, peppermint and eucalyptus. In the mid-palate, we find tension, a firm and vertical tannin structure, enveloped in a dense and juicy fruitiness. There are flavors of ripe black plum, juicy fresh morello cherry, prunes in chocolate, morello cherry in chocolate, crème de cassis, wild strawberry and crushed blueberry, as well as woody and spicy touches (pine nuts toasted, pine needles, toasted bitter almond, liquorice) and a floral touch (violet, dried peony). The finish is sapid, enveloping and minty, with a lingering minty flavor and a salivating acidity. A deep, refined, very complex wine, with tension and density, while remaining elegant and subtle. Outstanding!