L'Oratoire des Papes : Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2019

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2019 from L'Oratoire des Papes

Tasting

Appearance

With an intense golden yellow hue, this wine displays delicate green highlights.

Nose

The nose reveals a beautiful aromatic complexity with notes of white-fleshed fruits such as pear, peach and quince. Delicate floral nuances reminiscent of acacia enrich the bouquet. With aeration, mineral touches of flint emerge, accompanied by subtle dried fruit notes and a discreet hint of vanilla.

Palate

On the palate, this wine expresses a remarkable balance between richness and minerality. The attack is fruity and generous, while the mid-palate reveals a lovely salinity derived from the limestone soils. The finish stands out with a delicate bitterness that brings precision and length to the whole.

Food and wine pairings

This Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc pairs ideally with scallops, whether served as tartare or in a creamy sauce, grilled or buttered lobster, as well as monkfish with saffron. It also goes beautifully with aged hard cheeses such as Comté or Gruyère.

Serving and storage

This Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2019 is ideally enjoyed at a temperature of 50°F. It can be appreciated in its youth to take advantage of its freshness and fruitiness, but also has excellent aging potential of approximately 15 to 25 years depending on storage conditions.

A vibrant and aromatic white Châteauneuf-du-Pape from L'Oratoire des Papes

The estate

The history of L'Oratoire des Papes begins in 1880 when Édouard Amouroux inherited a parcel of vines sheltering an oratory dedicated to Saint Marc. In 1926, his son Léonce renamed the estate and created the iconic Art Deco label, unchanged for nearly a century. Acquired in 2000 by the AdVini group through Maison Ogier, the estate has since benefited from significant investments, including the complete renovation of the historic Prieuré. Since 2015, Édouard Guérin has served as technical director of the estate located in Courthézon, at the gateway to Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the Rhône Valley. The estate stands out for its commitment to organic and biodynamic farming, and for an exceptionally high proportion of white wine production for the appellation.

The vineyard

The plots dedicated to this white Châteauneuf-du-Pape are planted on soils of limestone fragments and safres, giving the wine its characteristic minerality. The vineyard benefits from varied exposures, facing east and west. Farmed organically since 2008, it receives attentive care with regular compost amendments and cover cropping between the rows. Harvesting is carried out by hand and early to preserve freshness and the expression of the terroir.

The vintage

The 2019 vintage in Châteauneuf-du-Pape was characterized by a relatively cool spring followed by an exceptionally hot and dry summer. Temperatures regularly exceeded 86°F, with a peak of 111.7°F at the end of June. Summer rainfall was very low, reaching only 158 millimeters. These conditions produced small berries of impeccable sanitary quality. A welcome rain in mid-September allowed ripening to be completed under optimal conditions, yielding concentrated and perfectly healthy grapes.

Winemaking and aging

To produce this Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2019, the grapes are whole-cluster pressed using a gentle method. After settling for 12 to 36 hours at 43°F, 80% of the must ferments in tulip-shaped concrete tanks at a controlled temperature between 59 and 64°F, while 20% ferments in 300-liter barrels. Aging takes place on total lees without malolactic fermentation to preserve freshness. The barrel-aged portion benefits from lees stirring until December, for a total duration of approximately six months.

Grape varieties

Clairette, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Piquepoul, Picardan