One of our best recent acquisitions to our Direct Import portfolio continues to blow me away—Caroline Charrière of Font de Courtedune of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Since taking over from her father (and joined by her brother who tends the vineyards), she’s stayed true to the family’s roots, working with the same old vines and using the traditional tools and methods handed down through generations. Her vineyards are mostly old-vine Grenache, planted on sandy soils (safre), which are cooler than the region’s famous galets (rolled stones). That means fresher wines with finer tannins—especially important as the climate continues to warm. Her main vineyard is even next door to Rayas, and yes, I’ve seen Emmanuel Reynaud working the parcel just down the slope. Caroline’s approach in the cellar is simple: whole cluster fermentation in concrete tanks, no punchdowns, just gentle pumpovers to keep things moving. The result is a wine that’s all about purity, elegance, and place. The 2022 vintage is showing beautifully—strawberry, red plum, garrigue, and a subtle oolong tea note. It’s got ripe, polished tannins and a long, graceful finish. Drink it now with a good decant (perfect with grilled lamb or, like I had it, steak haché), or tuck it away in the cellar for a few years and let it evolve. This is distinctive, character-driven Châteauneuf that really overdelivers!

An incredibly pretty Châteauneuf-du-Pape that leaves no doubt as to its place of origin. Elegant and finessed, this wine still presents undeniable structure. When it comes to pairing potential, it offers a versatility almost comparable to northern Italian reds—though with softer tannins. Red fruit and apricot on the nose are joined by notes of garrigue, sage, violet, and a hint of orange peel. I immediately think of lamb meatballs with plenty of herbs, olive tapenade, or even grilled tuna steak over greens.