In years whose quality allows for it, Jean-Paul separates his oldest, lowest-yielding vines into this cuvée, which never comprises more than 10% of a given vintage’s total production. These vines are found in three key vineyards: La Craü (planted in 1924), La Nerthe (planted in 1920), and Pied de Baud (planted in 1920, and facing northeast, thereby contributing lift and spice). Comprising 65% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, 5% Syrah, and 5% assorted others, it spends two years in a combination of larger foudres and smaller barriques—all very well used—and the higher proportion of Mourvèdre shows in the wine’s deep, brooding, wild personality. Significantly less aromatically exuberant at this stage of development than the 2015 “Tradition,” the 2015 “Cuvée des Félix” is oceanic in scope, and, as is always the case, it demands a bit of patience. Still, the tannins, while massive, are honest in spirit, and are coated in enough fruit as to not be at all forbidding, and this wine oozes soulfulness just like its friendlier sibling above. It will doubtlessly unfold slowly and mesmerizingly over time, displaying the complexity which for now remains tightly coiled. These elderly vines yielded a mere 18 hectoliters per hectare in 2015.