If ever you needed a reminder of summer's full flush to cheer you through the teeth of winter, this white Chateauneuf-du-Pape should be top of your list. With white wine production covering less than 5% of the appellation, it's a rare charm to seek out, in this case with beautifully exotic aromas, everything from peach to hints of pineapple and dried mango, the fruit soars thanks to zero oak and no malolactic fermentation in a bid to preserve tension, vitality and freshness. Blended from 40% Clairette with 15% each of Roussanne and Grenache Blanc and 30% Bourboulenc there’s plenty of voluptuous texture to this wine with acres of apricot flavour and flourishing gingery spice trailing through the finish. Try pairing it with a mountain cheese such as Beaufort or Comte or try it with Coronation Chicken – also well worth decanting out of the fridge for at least half an hour before serving to allow its full complexity unfurl.
by OS, Decanter , 2022
Looking first at the white, the 2021 Chateauneuf Du Pape Blanc is straight-up beautiful stuff, offering clean citrus and orange blossom-like fruits as well as subtle spice, chalky minerality, and flower oil-like nuances. Medium-bodied on the palate, with bright yet integrated acidity, it's textured, has remarkable purity, and a great finish.
by JD, Jeb Dunnuck , 2022
White Châteauneuf-du-Pape is quite rare and represents less than 5% of the appellations production, this refreshing oak-free example is one of the best around!