Up in the top handful of wines in the vintage (which should come as no surprise to anyone who follows this estate), the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, rich and layered Chateauneuf that doesn’t put a foot wrong. Made from 85% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre and the rest Syrah, it offers blockbuster notes of blackberry, liquid-violets, spice and serious minerality to go with awesome mid-palate depth and layers of sweet tannin. Like the Cuvee Chaupin, it will be better in another handful of years and thrill through 2027.