Domaine Olivier Hillaire Chateauneuf du Pape "Les Petits Pieds d'Armand" 2015
(Southern Rhone, France) - [RP 93-95] [AG 92-94]
Regular price $150.00 Sale price $99.97 Save $50.03
6-PACK PRICE = $95.97 per item (add 6+ quantity to your basket)
12-PACK PRICE = $89.97 per item (add 12+ quantity to your basket)
Notes from the Winemaker:
Domaine Oliver Hillaire is a small 23 acre estate in France's Southern Rhone Valley. Olivier has 30+ years experience of winemaking in Chateauneuf-du-Pape. With this experience he has learned that keeping his yields very low helps produce wines with great concentration and soft, silky tannins. This great wine, like Olivier, can be enjoyed in its youth but will also age very well!
93-95 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"The flagship cuvée and the smallest production release is the 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Les Petits Pieds D'Armand, which is 100% old vine Grenache from the western, sandy parts of the La Crau plateau. Still aging in 500-liter demi-muids, this puppy has rocking concentration and depth, with full-bodied richness, sweet tannin and loads of strawberry, black cherry, blueberry, Provençal garrigue and hints of flowers. While a big, rich wine, it stays incredibly graceful and even elegant, which is the house style as well." - Jeb Dunnuck (Oct 2016)
92-94 Points - Antonio Galloni's Vinous Media:
"Vivid ruby-red. Powerful, mineral-laced raspberry, cherry liqueur and incense aromas pick up suggestions of Asian spices and candied flowers with air. Palate-staining red and blue fruit and spicecake flavors deepen and spread out on the back half while maintaining vivacity and focus. Deftly blends power and finesse. A smoky mineral quality adds definition to the strikingly long, sweet finish." - Josh Raynolds (Mar 2017)
95-98 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (2012 Vintage):
"Even better, and possibly the wine of the vintage, the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Petits d’Armand is about as fabulous an expression of old vine Grenache as you’re likely to find. Massive and decadent, yet lively and fresh, it offers up a sweet bouquet of berry fruits, licorice, incense, flowers, garrigue to go with full-bodied richness and depth, thrilling purity, good freshness and blockbuster length. Gorgeous all around, it should drink well on release, yet last for 15+ years. Don’t miss it! Drink 2014-2027." -Jeb Dunnuck (Oct 2013)
93 Points - Wine Spectator Magazine (2011 vintage):
"Very perfumy, with rooibos tea and blood orange notes out front, followed by enticing linzer torte, cherry sauce and anise flavors. The long, silky finish is nicely inlaid with toasted spice notes. Drink now through 2030. 550 cases made." -JM (Oct 31, 2013)
91 Points - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (2011 vintage):
"Full ruby. Blackberry, cherry-cola and potpourri on the perfumed nose. Sappy dark fruit flavors show very good depth, picking up spicecake and anise nuances with air. This smooth, expansive wine finishes with strong punch, slow-building tannins and an exotic floral pastille flourish. Nicely energetic for its heft." -Josh Raynolds (Jan/Feb 14)
Domaine Oliver Hillaire is a small 23 acre estate in France's Southern Rhone Valley. Olivier has 30+ years experience of winemaking in Chateauneuf-du-Pape. With this experience he has learned that keeping his yields very low helps produce wines with great concentration and soft, silky tannins. This great wine, like Olivier, can be enjoyed in its youth but will also age very well!
Ratings & Reviews
93-95 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"The flagship cuvée and the smallest production release is the 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Les Petits Pieds D'Armand, which is 100% old vine Grenache from the western, sandy parts of the La Crau plateau. Still aging in 500-liter demi-muids, this puppy has rocking concentration and depth, with full-bodied richness, sweet tannin and loads of strawberry, black cherry, blueberry, Provençal garrigue and hints of flowers. While a big, rich wine, it stays incredibly graceful and even elegant, which is the house style as well." - Jeb Dunnuck (Oct 2016)
92-94 Points - Antonio Galloni's Vinous Media:
"Vivid ruby-red. Powerful, mineral-laced raspberry, cherry liqueur and incense aromas pick up suggestions of Asian spices and candied flowers with air. Palate-staining red and blue fruit and spicecake flavors deepen and spread out on the back half while maintaining vivacity and focus. Deftly blends power and finesse. A smoky mineral quality adds definition to the strikingly long, sweet finish." - Josh Raynolds (Mar 2017)
95-98 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (2012 Vintage):
"Even better, and possibly the wine of the vintage, the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Petits d’Armand is about as fabulous an expression of old vine Grenache as you’re likely to find. Massive and decadent, yet lively and fresh, it offers up a sweet bouquet of berry fruits, licorice, incense, flowers, garrigue to go with full-bodied richness and depth, thrilling purity, good freshness and blockbuster length. Gorgeous all around, it should drink well on release, yet last for 15+ years. Don’t miss it! Drink 2014-2027." -Jeb Dunnuck (Oct 2013)
93 Points - Wine Spectator Magazine (2011 vintage):
"Very perfumy, with rooibos tea and blood orange notes out front, followed by enticing linzer torte, cherry sauce and anise flavors. The long, silky finish is nicely inlaid with toasted spice notes. Drink now through 2030. 550 cases made." -JM (Oct 31, 2013)
91 Points - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (2011 vintage):
"Full ruby. Blackberry, cherry-cola and potpourri on the perfumed nose. Sappy dark fruit flavors show very good depth, picking up spicecake and anise nuances with air. This smooth, expansive wine finishes with strong punch, slow-building tannins and an exotic floral pastille flourish. Nicely energetic for its heft." -Josh Raynolds (Jan/Feb 14)