I was blown away by how favorably the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Petits Pieds d’Armand had evolved. Last year I indicated it was still fermenting, and now that it is in bottle, it is one heck of a wine that took 18 months to ferment dry. Dense kirsch, fig, plum and prune notes are followed by a wine with stunning full-bodied richness, an unctuous texture, abundant lavender, spice box, earth and Christmas fruitcake characteristics and a massively fruity, gorgeous finish. It is one of the great examples of Grenache from this vintage. Consume it over the next 10-15 years. This micro-estate of just under 10 acres represents part of the former Domaine des Relagnes owned by Henri Boiron. The consultant, Philippe Cambie, has pushed the quality of the Olivier Hillaire wines to a very high level, including the spectacular luxury cuvee called Les Petits Pieds d’Armand, which is from 107-year-old vines planted in pure sand in the Grand Pierre lieu-dit, from which the famous Barroche Pure, Giraud Grenache de Pierre, and a few other great Grenache-dominated wines emerge. Both 2009 Chateauneuf du Papes performed better out of bottle than they did last year, as malolactics often take a long time at this estate. Importer: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173