Olivier Hillaire - Chateauneuf Du Pape Les Petits Pieds D'Armand 2011

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Olivier Hillaire Description

Olivier has 30+ years experience of winemaking with Chateauneuf-du-Pape. With his 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!

Olivier’s winemaking career began almost 30 years ago when he started out at Domaine des Relagnes. After 20+ years of hard work as winemaker at the estate, raising the quality of wine with each vintage that would allow it, Domaine des Relagnes, not owned by Hillaire, was sold in 2005. Olivier immediately created his own label and, using the charm that he was abundantly blessed with, was actually able to convince the owner of Relagnes, Henri Boirin (Olivier’s Ex-Father-in-law), to keep a couple of hectares so that Olivier could rent the parcels to get himself started. Naturally, Olivier chose the very best parcels! Most notably ‘Les Petits Pieds d’Armand’ from which Olivier makes his top cuvee.

Wine Advocate: 92-95 Points

The ancient vine cuvee of 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Petits Pieds d'Armand exhibits a dense ruby/purple color along with a big, sweet nose of kirsch liqueur, incense, black raspberries, bouquet garni and loamy soil undertones. Full-bodied with luscious fruit, this beauty should drink well for a decade. This tiny estate, which used to be part of the Domaine des Relagnes, produces two cuvees of Chateauneuf du Pape, the traditional cuvee from terroirs near Clos St.-Jean and Grand Pierre, and a 100% old vine Grenache offering called Les Petits Pieds d’Armand from ancient vines (nearly 110 years of age) planted in sandy soil. Besides making first-class wines, Olivier Hillaire is also the village’s top baker.

Vinous: 91 Points

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.