Grand Tinel’s ‘Classique’ is ready to rock your world. Slipping under $40, is it the top Châteauneuf value of the vintage? We think so. Locked in at 40% OFF, it delivers roughly 97% of the quality and pleasure as their flagship.

Scores? Got ‘em.

94 points Dunnuck, 93 points Enthusiast! Offering “a terrific sense of freshness and purity” as a “lip smackingly fruity, luminous blend” with “sun-drenched raspberry and boysenberry flavors…”

Next, we have a take from Jeff Leve, who runs the Wine Cellar Insider and specializes in Bordeaux and Rhône wines. He gave it a 93 noting its “soft-textured, sweet cherries, wild peppery strawberries and hints of black raspberry”.

NAILED IT. What else can we add, other than a warning label about its addictive qualities? You’ll want to share it with everybody and keep it all to yourself so better get enough to do both! Loaded with a deep, expansive core of ripe red fruit, flowers, and wind-swept “garrigue” note that define the region’s wines.

Why are we not surprised? After all, the genius behind this micro-production luxury cuvée is the late and great Philippe Cambie. This is one of the last vintages he finished, and like many that came before it, delivers BIG TIME again.

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate acknowledges that as “run by the Jeaune Family, with consulting advice from Philippe Cambie, the wines of Grand Tinel always lead with fruit and possess beautiful and classic Southern Rhône characters.”

Cambie’s track record includes Clos Saint Jean in the South of France to Jamet in the North to his California collaboration with Manfred Krankl of Sine Qua Non. From 1998, up until his untimely passing last year, he truly was one of the top consultants in the world, period.

94 Points – Jeb Dunnuck

“The classic 2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape (55% Grenache and 45% Syrah) reveals a dense purple hue as well as a terrific sense of freshness and purity in its darker berry fruits, peppery herbs, leather, and violet aromas and flavors. Showing lots of Syrah character, it’s medium to full-bodied and has ripe tannins, some gamey, bloody, iron-like nuances, and a great finish. It’s a stunning base wine.”

93 Points – Wine Enthusiast

“Unadorned by oak, this lip smackingly fruity, luminous blend of Grenache and Syrah puts sun-drenched raspberry and boysenberry flavors on center stage. Ample and silken on the palate yet anchored by fine, softly gripping tannins, it’s an immediately enjoyable red with a smoky, sweet spice finish. At peak now–2028 but likely to hold further still.”