Château de Vaudieu Blanc 2018

Nicely balanced, fresh, with a little inner tension. The oak is well integrated, lending a subtle nutty spice to the flavours with a long finish. This already has some complexity, with plenty of pear and apple compote, along with a subtle exotic mango streak. Loads of personality and joie de vivre. A consistently good white blend. Two-thirds grown on limestone, the rest on sand and galets roulés. It's fermented in a mix of new and old barriques as well as stainless steel and sees a third aged for eight months in new oak. Drinking Window 2019 - 2024

This estate unquestionably makes some of the top whites in the region, and the base cuvée 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Blanc checks in as a blend of 45% Grenache Blanc, 31% Clairette and the balance Roussanne. Rock star notes of caramelized peach, ripe pineapple, toasted bread, and honeyed flowers all soar from the glass of this medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured, layered white that does everything right, staying light and elegant on the palate, with flawless balance and a great, great finish. Don’t miss it.

The 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc blends 60% tank-fermented and aged Grenache Blanc with 30% barrel-fermented and aged Roussanne, then rounds out the assemblage with 5% each Clairette and Picardin. It offers attractive notes of honeyed tangerine and pineapple on the nose, followed by a medium to full-bodied, round, silky feel on the palate. Hints of melon and anise linger on the finish. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.