A glorious example of 100% Grenache from the Coudoulet sector is the 2010 Elixir des Papes. Sweet black cherry and black raspberry fruit, incense, camphor and licorice aromas jump from the glass of this elegant, pure, full-bodied, luxuriously fruity, extravagantly concentrated wine. Beautifully balanced with fresh acids and a long finish, it, too, should drink well for 10-15 years. These were all impressive efforts.(Not yet released)Although I did not have an opportunity to taste them from bottle, readers may remember that my reviews of the unbottled 2009s in issue #191 included the following ratings: 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Tradition (87-89), 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Cadiac (90-92), 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Fut de Chene (86-88), and 2009 Elixir des Papes (84-86?).Importers: Elite Wine Import Co., Lorton, VA; tel. (703) 339-8150; Eagle Eye Imports, Bloomfield Hills, MI; tel. 734-467-7088; Ted Edward Wine Ltd., New York, NY (no phone number available); and Casa Bruno LLC, Portland, OR; tel. (503) 235-7429

The 2010 Elixir des Papes is a 100% Grenache cuvee from the Coudoulet lieu-dit. This must be old vine material given its extraordinary kirsch, lavender, licorice, camphor and incense notes. Stunningly rich, full-bodied and sensationally extracted yet silky smooth, this sexy Grenache fruit bomb should be drunk over the next 10-15 years. This estate’s 36+ acres are all located in the northern tier of Chateauneuf du Pape, in such well-known vineyard sites (or, as the French call them, lieux-dits) as Chapouin, Coudoulet and La Gardiole. For years, most of Berthet-Rayne’s wine was sold to leading negociants, and while some still is, they now produce about 2,000 cases of their traditional cuvee of Chateauneuf du Pape, followed by just under 1,000 cases of an oak-aged cuvee and 200 or so cases of a luxuriously rich offering called Cadiac. The 2011s are very good. The bottled 2010s have turned out to be as good as I thought they were last year. Importers: Elite Wine Import Co., Lorton, VA; tel. (703) 339-8150; Eagle Eye Imports, Bloomfield Hills, MI; tel. 734-467-7088; Casa Bruno LLC, Portland, OR; tel. (503) 235-7429 and Blue Coast International, 60 East 42nd Street, Suite 1753, New York, New York 10165,Tel: (212) 867-0073 www.berthet-rayne.fr

Perhaps the 2009 Elixir des Papes should be listed separately as it is produced by the daughter of the Berthet-Rayne family. Made from 100% Grenache, it did not perform terribly well in my tasting, revealing a light to medium-bodied style, a lack of concentration and some off aromas. (Not yet released) I’m not sure this estate made any 2008s since they did not present them in 2009 or 2010. From a bio-dynamically certified vineyard, the wines from Berthet-Rayne are clearly on the upswing. Importers: Elite Wine Import Co., Lorton, VA; tel. (703) 339-8150; Eagle Eye Imports, Bloomfield Hills, MI; tel. 734-467-7088; Ted Edward Wine Ltd., New York, NY (no phone number available); and Casa Bruno LLC, Portland, OR; tel. (503) 235-7429

Perhaps the 2009 Elixir des Papes should be listed separately as it is produced by the daughter of the Berthet-Rayne family. Made from 100% Grenache, it did not perform terribly well in my tasting, revealing a light to medium-bodied style, a lack of concentration and some off aromas.(Not yet released)I’m not sure this estate made any 2008s since they did not present them in 2009 or 2010. From a bio-dynamically certified vineyard, the wines from Berthet-Rayne are clearly on the upswing.Importers: Elite Wine Import Co., Lorton, VA; tel. (703) 339-8150; Eagle Eye Imports, Bloomfield Hills, MI; tel. 734-467-7088; Ted Edward Wine Ltd., New York, NY (no phone number available); and Casa Bruno LLC, Portland, OR; tel. (503) 235-7429