GUILLAUME GONNET CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 'BEL AMI' 2022

Guillaume Gonnet farms 50- to 90-year-old vines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape's Croix du Bois vineyard, where round pebbles blanket sand, clay, and limestone on southeast-facing slopes at 2,500 vines per hectare. This 2022 Bel Ami blends 70% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, and 10% Cinsault, hand-harvested with 60-100% destemming and natural yeast fermentation lasting 20-30 days in concrete, stainless steel, and wood. Aging splits evenly between pyramid concrete vats, wooden vats, stainless steel, and 600-liter demi-muids, yielding 14.5% alcohol with soft tannins, red and black fruit, garrigue, Christmas cake spice, and 10-15 year cellaring potential.