2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc

Even better is the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc, a blend of 40% Grenache Blanc, 30% Clairette and 30% Roussanne. Sabon has the courage to put this wine through malolactic so he does not have to filter it, and the result is a zesty wine displaying lots of pear, pineapple, white peach and rosewater notes, great fruit, a medium to full-bodied texture, fresh acids and a luscious finish. This impeccably run estate, in the capable hands of Christophe Sabon, his sister Isabelle, and their father, is one of the superstars of the southern Rhone Valley. Over the last 12-15 years, the quality of the wines has gone from strength to strength, with brilliant wines being produced in all price categories. They make sumptuous, complex, world-class red, white and rose Cotes du Rhones, and year-in and year-out, their Chateauneuf du Papes are among the top three or four wines of the vintage. Tasting two great vintages (2009 and 2010) from the Sabons was one of the most thrilling tastings I have had this year. My tasting began with some unbelievable Cotes du Rhones. Importer: Eric Solomon, European Selections, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 358-1565

A fantastic white that’s a blend of 60% Grenache blanc, 20% Roussanne, and 20% Clairette, with the Roussanne aged in barrel, the 2010 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Tradition Blanc possesses classic aromas of peach and stone fruits, gorgeous minerality (wet slate-like), and richer, background notes of toast, vanilla, and crème. Gorgeously fresh and clean, with a medium-bodied, rich texture, perfect balance, and vibrant acidity, this beauty should be consumed over the following 2-3 years, or cellared for 7-8.