Château de Beaucastel : Roussanne Vieilles Vignes 2024

The 2024 Chateauneuf du Pape Roussanne Vieilles Vignes is broad and dramatic, bursting with aromas of smoke, spices, ripe white fruits, confit citrus and nutmeg. Full-bodied, layered and unctuous, with a fleshy, enveloping core of fruit framed by saline acidity, it’s a terrific white wine—and a strong contender for wine of the vintage.

Citrussy aromatics this year – satsuma and pink grapefruit with a touch of pickled ginger. Powerful but very tense, showing lovely intensity and salinity. Vibrant, not overly fat or alcoholic and the oak is well judged. You could drink this now, but it will age very well. Matured in 50% new and 50% one-year-old barrels.

So rich and dense yet so precise and delicate, this is a miraculously balanced white Châteauneuf-du-Pape. I love the aromas of floral honey and beautifully ripe melon, and on the medium- to full-bodied palate the subtle spicy notes are a delight. Super-long and super-elegant finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.