M. Chapoutier : Croix de Bois 2022

The 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Croix de Bois is totally sexy. Melted licorice, ripe black plum, blackberry, crushed violets and smoky subtleties are all dialed up. Loaded with jammy red and black fruit concentration and built around robust tannins, the 2022 is a dense, generous Croix de Bois at eye level with the gorgeous 2020. Outstanding.

Kirsch liqueur, ground pepper, dried flowers, and loamy earth notes all emerge from the 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Croix De Bois, another brilliant Grenache from this team that has so much to love. Full-bodied, concentrated, broad, and expansive, it has the sunny style of the vintage while staying flawlessly balanced, concentrated, rich, and powerful. This cuvée comes from the Crois de Bois lieu-dit and saw the same 70% destemming and aging all in concrete as the Barbe Rac release. It, too, will keep for 10-15 years with ease.

An elegant, glossy style, with a lighter, less-extracted profile to its red currant, dried strawberry and bright cherry notes, underscored by warm soil, soy sauce and garrigue, plus warm spice and pepper details. Streams through with fresh, deftly polished tannins and chalky mineral elements lining the long, complex finish. Beguiling, perfumed and complex. Drink now through 2038. 10 cases imported.