Château de la Font du Loup sits beside its own natural spring in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a property whose name, "fountain of the wolf," recalls a time when wolves migrating down from Mont Ventoux would stop there to drink. The estate is run today by Anne-Charlotte Mélia-Bachas and her family, who farm their vineyards biodynamically across some of the appellation's most storied terroir. In 1992 the family added a four-hectare parcel on the high, north-facing edge of La Crau, the same plateau that is home to Château de Beaucastel and Vieux Télégraphe, planted with Grenache vines that are now over a century old. That parcel became the source for "Le Puy Rolland," the estate's flagship old-vine cuvée.

The 2024 "Le Puy Rolland" is 100% Grenache, hand-harvested from those century-old vines rooted in pure sand and scattered stone. Farming stays gentle and biodynamic, and the wine spends about 18 months in neutral foudre, so nothing but the fruit and the site come through. Where its famous La Crau neighbors lean toward power and structure, this cuvée takes the opposite path: high-toned red and blue fruit, dried herbs, and a floral lift carried on a silky, restrained frame. Recent vintages of this cuvée have drawn scores as high as 95 points from critics like Jeb Dunnuck, and it has built a following as one of the appellation's most graceful expressions.

Why You'll Love It

• Grown on the same prized La Crau plateau as Beaucastel and Vieux Télégraphe, from Grenache vines planted in 1992 and now over a century old
• Farmed biodynamically and aged in neutral foudre, letting the sandy, stony terroir speak clearly
• Aromatic and high-toned rather than muscular, with red and blue fruit, dried herbs, and floral lift
• A cellar-worthy Châteauneuf-du-Pape that has drawn scores as high as 95 points in recent vintages

How To Serve It

• Serve at 60 to 65°F
• Decant for about 60 minutes to let the aromatics fully open
• Pour into Burgundy stems to capture the perfume
• Pair with duck breast, herb-crusted lamb, or wild mushroom dishes
• Drink now through 2040