December 18th - December 21st, 2025 | | |
THIS WEEK'S TASTING FLIGHT:
Châteauneuf-du-Pape!
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Four expressions of the Rhône’s most iconic appellation;
where river rock, old vines, and masterful blending
define power and finesse.
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As we enter into the final weekend before the Christmas holiday, join us for a memorable experience that has become a cherished annual tradition here at Petit Philippe: a tasting flight spotlighting FOUR extraordinary Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines.
These wines are the epitome of elegance, perfectly suited for the cozy sweater-weather of the holidays.
An appellation defined as much by its ancient stones as by its sun-drenched climate, Châteauneuf-du-Pape has long held a special place in the Rhône (and in our tasting room!). Its wines are powerful yet nuanced, shaped by galets roulés, old vines, and a tradition of thoughtful blending that prioritizes balance over excess.
Each year, we look forward to revisiting Châteauneuf not simply for its intensity, but for its range. From the brightness and texture of the Blanc to the depth and structure of Grenache-led Rouge, this is an appellation that rewards exploration and comparison. It’s a region where subtle differences in soil, vintage, and philosophy can dramatically shape the final wine.
This week’s $40 flight brings that story to life through four distinct expressions, thoughtfully selected to highlight both terroir and vintage variation. We're thrilled to showcase an exceptional CNdP Blanc, alongside two contrasting 2023 reds and a more mature, layered interpretation from 2020. What a lineup!
Together, these bottles offer a compelling snapshot of why Châteauneuf-du-Pape remains one of France’s most iconic and enduring appellations: bold yet structured, generous yet precise, and captivating for both seasoned Rhône lovers and those discovering it anew.
Cheers to a season of celebration!
Mark & the Petit Philippe team
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Take the Flight Home: Châteauneuf-du-Pape Signature Collection (4-Pack)
Experience this beloved annual flight beyond the Tasting Room with our Châteauneuf-du-Pape Signature Collection. This limited 4-pack brings together all four wines from this week’s flight (spanning 1 Blanc and 3 Rouge) offering a complete portrait of the appellation’s depth and diversity.
Perfect for sharing, gifting, or continuing the exploration at home.
SHOP NOW →
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As the holidays approach, we’re here to help you with compelling and unique bottles. Our 2025 Online Holiday Shop features a carefully curated selection of wines, premium glassware, and hosting-ready favorites: perfect for gifting, entertaining, or building your cellar for the season ahead.
Looking for something more personal? We’re always happy to assist with custom wine selections or curated cases (including discounts on custom mixed cases for hosting), whether you’re shopping for a single bottle or a table-ready collection.
Prefer flexibility? Petit Philippe gift cards make it easy to give the perfect bottle (or tasting experience!).
Shop online with convenient in-store pickup, or reach out by phone or email, or stop by the shop - we’re always glad to help you find the right gift for every occasion!
Explore our holiday offerings:
→ Shop the Holiday Collection
→ Discover Premium Glassware Gifts
→ Build a Custom Case
→ Give a Petit Philippe Gift Card
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GET LIT: Charlotte
Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026 @ 6 PM
Join us for an evening of wine, words, and community at Lit Park Road Books in Charlotte. Get Lit: Charlotte brings together curious readers and passionate wine lovers for a relaxed, inspired night featuring thoughtfully selected wines from Petit Philippe alongside a cozy, literary atmosphere.
Sip seasonal wines while exploring great conversation and curated book picks: the perfect pairing for winter nights. Whether you’re looking to discover your next favorite read, meet fellow book lovers, or simply enjoy a glass in good company, this event is designed to elevate your week.
📍 Petit Philippe | 4001 Park Road
📅 Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026 @ 6 PM
🍷 Wine by Petit Philippe
📚 Books by Lit Park Road Books
→ Reserve your tickets
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VOICES OF BRUNELLO
Winterfest Tasting
Hosted with:
Le Ragnaie
with Riccardo Campinoti
and acclaimed singer:
Ms. Melinda Whittington
Thursday Evening, January 29, 2026
SAVE THE DATE
We are thrilled to announce a very special evening at PETIT PHILIPPE.
On Thursday evening, January 29, 2026, we welcome Riccardo Campinoti, owner and winemaker of Le Ragnaie, for an intimate celebration of Brunello di Montalcino at its most honest and expressive.
Le Ragnaie stands among the most respected estates in Montalcino, revered for its transparent style, high-elevation vineyards, and unwavering commitment to purity and place. Riccardo will guide us through a compelling lineup of Brunello wines, sharing the philosophy, vineyards, and vintage character that have made Le Ragnaie a benchmark for lovers of traditional Brunello.
The evening will feature a thoughtfully paired menu designed to complement the wines, alongside a live musical performances by Ms. Melinda Whittington, pairing Italian opera, pop, and folk classics. A Davidson-based acclaimed vocalist, Melinda has performed coast to coast, from San Francisco Opera and Minneapolis to New York City, and alongside international artists including Andrea Bocelli.
This will be a limited-guest experience, focused on great wine, great food, and beautiful music.
Additional details, wine lineup, and reservation information to follow.
SAVE THE DATE
Tickets will be released soon.
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5:00 - 9:00 pm Thursday
5:00 - 9:00 pm Friday
1:00 - 9:00 pm Saturday
1:00 - 7:00 pm Sunday
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Domaine Galèvan
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2022
Southern Rhône • France
$89 retail
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An elegant example of Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc from the ninth generation of Galèvan family winemakers. Coralie Galèvan is the first woman to take charge of the family estate in its centuries of history. Before her and her parents, Jean-Pierre and Pierrette, and her ancestors left their mark on the estate. Time to get onto the CNdP white!
Varietals: 95% Grenache Blanc, 2% Clairette, 2% Roussanne, 1% Bourboulenc. Grapes grown in chalky clay soil and are harvested in small yields. Fermentation takes place in new french oak barrels. Aged between 15-18 months in barrels on the lees.
Tasting Notes: A white Chateauneuf du Pape in all elegance with a beautiful pale yellow color, fresh, fine, complex with a splendid aromatic amplitude. Notes of peach, coconut, honey, and cream give this wine incredible depth anfd complexity on the palate. It gets the best out of fish dishes, oven-cooked bream, grilled tuna, white meat.
Bring a Bottle Home →
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Le Clos du Caillou
'Les Safres'
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2023
Southern Rhône • France
$75 retail
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A beautifully refined expression of Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Clos du Caillou, Les Safres highlights the elegance and purity that sandy soils can bring to Grenache. The vines for this cuvée average over 65 years of age and are planted in safres: compact sand soils that naturally temper power and emphasize finesse, aromatics, and drinkability.
Varietals: 90% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre. Hand-harvested, fully destemmed, and fermented with wild yeasts. Aged for 14 months in older foudres to preserve freshness and highlight terroir rather than oak influence.
Tasting Notes: Bright, expressive, and finely textured, with aromas of ripe strawberry, cherry, and raspberry layered with subtle notes of licorice, ginger, pepper, and Provençal spice. The palate is juicy yet composed, offering supple tannins, vibrant acidity, and a long, savory finish with a gentle saline edge. Elegant and concentrated without heaviness, Les Safres carries a Burgundian sense of balance and precision, showing exceptional charm now, with the structure to age gracefully.
Bring a Bottle Home →
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Clos du Mont-Olivet
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2023
Southern Rhône • France
$65 retail
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A benchmark, traditionally styled Châteauneuf-du-Pape from one of the appellation’s most respected multi-generational estates. Clos du Mont-Olivet has long been prized by collectors for its balance, aromatic depth, and age-worthy structure, offering a classic interpretation rooted firmly in place and tradition.
FUN FACT: Winemaker Thierry Sabon is of the same family as Roger Sabon and Isabel Sabon (Domaine de la Jannasse)!
Varietals: 75% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 9% Mourvèdre, with small amounts of traditional Rhône varieties including Cinsault, Counoise, Vaccarèse, Terret Noir, Picpoul Noir, and Muscardin. Sourced from a mosaic of vineyards across the appellation, with soils ranging from clay and sand to alluvial gravel and galets roulés. Hand-harvested and fermented with indigenous yeasts, then aged primarily in older foudres, cement, and neutral barrels. Unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Notes: Aromatic and savory, with notes of black cherry, blackberry, baking spice, licorice, and dried herbs. The palate is concentrated yet balanced, showing tart red and dark fruit, firm but polished tannins, and a subtle mineral backbone. There is excellent length and structure without excess weight, giving the wine a grounded, classic profile that is highly approachable now while built to age with confidence.
Bring a Bottle Home →
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Château de Nalys
'Saintes Pierres de Nalys' Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2020
Southern Rhône • France
$70 retail
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A compelling and expressive Châteauneuf-du-Pape from the historic Château de Nalys, Saintes Pierres captures the essence of the appellation’s varied terroirs while remaining remarkably approachable. The name itself — Saintes Pierres or “holy stones” — pays tribute to the remarkable soils of the region, blending galets, sandstone, and sandy clay to produce wines with both richness and clarity.
Varietals: Predominantly Grenache (~65%), with Syrah (~25%) and smaller amounts of Muscardin, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Vaccarèse, and Terret Noir. Fermented and aged in a combination of foudres and stainless steel, the approach underscores bright, direct expression over heavy oak influence.
Tasting Notes: Rich and ample yet vividly fresh, this 2020 pours with fragrant aromas of raspberry, blood orange, rose petal, and licorice lifted by subtle herbal and minty accents. The palate delivers supple red fruit and bright acidity, framed by gentle, ripe tannins and a saline-tinged finish that keeps the wine lively and persistent. There’s a seamless harmony between exuberant fruit and refined structure (a hallmark of great Châteauneuf!), making this both immediately pleasurable and interesting to explore with food.
Why it’s special in this flight: As the most mature wine in our lineup, Saintes Pierres de Nalys offers depth and integration that stand in elegant contrast to the youthful energy of the 2023s. Its balanced richness and lingering finish make it an ideal culmination: thoughtful, layered, and deeply expressive of this flagship vintage.
Bring a Bottle Home →
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Regional Spotlight: Châteauneuf-du-Pape
The Stones, the Sun, and the Soul of the Southern Rhône
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Châteauneuf-du-Pape is one of the most iconic and historically significant wine appellations in all of France: a place where tradition, terroir, and grape diversity come together to produce wines of depth, power, and character that are beloved by enthusiasts around the world.
A Storied Origin
The name Châteauneuf-du-Pape literally means “The Pope’s New Castle,” a reference to the 14th-century period when the papacy moved from Rome to nearby Avignon. During this era, the local wines grew in stature alongside the church’s influence, and the region’s reputation as a premier wine-growing area began to take shape. In 1936, Châteauneuf-du-Pape became one of France’s earliest official appellations under the AOC system, cementing its place in wine history.
Terroir That Defines Style
What makes Châteauneuf-du-Pape so distinctive is its terroir, especially the famous galets roulés: large round stones that cover many of the region’s vineyards. These stones absorb heat from the sun during the long, warm growing season and radiate it back at night, helping grapes reach full, even ripeness. Beneath them lies a complex mosaic of soils (clay, sand, and limestone) each contributing subtle structural and aromatic nuances to the wines. The dry Mediterranean climate, with winds like the mistral sweeping moisture away, further concentrates fruit and builds intensity.
Location of Châteauneuf-du-Pape
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Grapes and Diversity
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is unique among French wine regions not only for its terroir but also for its blend friendly rules. The appellation permits up to thirteen different grape varieties in its wines (more than most regions in France), though Grenache remains dominant, especially in its reds. Syrah and Mourvèdre are frequent partners to Grenache, adding structure, spice, and deeper color, while white blends often feature Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Clairette, and other traditional Rhône varieties.
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Red and White Expressions
While Châteauneuf-du-Pape is best known for its powerful, layered red wines (often showing rich red and dark fruit, garrigue herbs, leather, and spice), its whites have quietly grown in quality and complexity. Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc can range from bright and aromatic to full-bodied and textured, revealing the same sense of place that makes the reds so compelling. Each wine reflects both the vintage and the blend choices made by the producer, making every tasting unique.
Why We Love Châteauneuf
Châteauneuf-du-Pape occupies a special place in the world of wine because it balances tradition with complexity. Its wines have the richness and structure to age gracefully, yet many also offer generous fruit and charm in their youth. Whether you’re exploring its sun-kissed reds or its expressive whites, Châteauneuf-du-Pape rewards curiosity with nuance, power, and unmistakeable character... a true testament to one of the Rhône’s greatest appellations.
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mark@petitphilippe.com | www.petitphilippe.com
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