Château de Beaucastel 2019

Gorgeous, showing a lovely display of seamlessly layered apricot, peach, Cavaillon melon and mirabelle plum flavors, with meringue, brioche, salted butter and macadamia nut notes. Delivers a lengthy finish, where everything flows so beautifully that it just brings you right back wanting more. Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Bourboulenc. Drink now through 2034. 1,000 cases made, 500 cases imported.

Gentle, plump and fairly opulent this year, the oak is well handled, sits in the background and adds body, weight and complexity of aroma and texture. A balanced, very classic expression of Beaucastel blanc. The acidity is fairly low this year, but the wine has a savoury and noble bitterness that supplies the structure. A good vintage, but one to drink young. 80% Roussanne; all other Châteauneuf white grapes make up remainder. 30% of the blend goes into oak on a four-year rotation.

Honeysuckle, white flowers, honeydew melon, citrus rind and white peach notes are all over the place on the nose and palate. Rich, lush oily and flamboyant, this is already sublime to taste with all its freshness and flesh. The wine was made from a blend of 85% Roussanne and 15% Grenache Blanc. Drink from 2022 - 2033

Bright golden yellow, silver reflections. Fine nougat caramel, notes of ripe pineapple, broom, vanilla and coconut, candied tangerine zest in the background, mineral note. Powerful, juicy, sweet tropical fruit, nuances of mango and honey blossom, nutty oak spice in its core, full-bodied and persistent, its opulence will develop into complexity if given some years of bottle ageing, definite ageing potential.

While the old-vine Roussanne cuvée from this estate gets all the attention from collectors, don’t make the mistake of discounting their classic Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc. The 2019 reveals a lighter gold hue as well as a beautiful and classic bouquet of honeyed citrus, quince, white flowers, bee’s wax, and a touch of flinty minerality. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it has flawless balance, nicely integrated acidity, and a great, minerally finish. You can enjoy bottles today with a decant or cellar for two to three decades, if you’re so inclined.

Lovely grape ripeness, exotic yellow fruit with notes of candied citrus, mandarin, and a touch of gorse. On the palate, the wine shows a certain breadth with power kept beautifully in check. A fine minerality settles in on the finish, with a saline, chalky lift at the end of the palate.

The 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc is 80% Roussanne, 15% Grenache Blanc and 5% other mixed varieties (Bourboulenc, Clairette, Picardan). Fermented and aged in a mix of barrels (30%) and tanks (70%), it offers up appealing flinty notes on the nose, accompanied by ripe pineapple and pear scents. It's medium to full-bodied on the palate, round, ripe and generous, with an expansive feel in the mouth and hints of warmth, honey and spice on the long finish. Lush and luxurious, it's drinkable young, but has a track record of aging well for as long as a decade depending on your preferences.