2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc

One of the whites of the vintage is the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Blanc, a gorgeous, rich, layered effort that stays perfectly balanced and pure. Classic notes of white flowers, honeysuckle, white peach, and ample minerality all give way to a medium to full-bodied white that has loads of texture, good freshness, and a great finish. This is a brilliant Châteauneuf Du Pape Blanc that makes a mockery of so many of the overly lean, fresh, so called elegant whites being produced today. As I wrote last year, proprietress Isabel Ferrando continues to fashion some of the most profound wines on the planet, and her 2017s and 2018s are not going to change that trend. Looking at the wines, the estate is in the southern portion of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and covers roughly 55 acres, from which she releases five cuvées: two whites and three reds. For the reds, the classic Châteauneuf-du-Pape is always a rough blend of 90% Grenache (from 70-year-old vines) and the balance Syrah and Mourvèdre aged in demi-muids and smaller barrels. The Reserve Auguste Favier comes from 60- to 100-year-old vines and is based largely on Grenache with around 15% Cinsault, aged all in older barrels. This cuvée always shows a seamless, elegant profile. Lastly, and what I would consider her top wine, the Collection Charles Giraud is always a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre, with the Grenache aged in tank and the Mourvèdre in demi-muids. I’ve also included her Châteauneuf-du-Pape Colombis cuvée here, which is released under the Isabel Ferrando label. It’s 100% Grenache from the sandy soils of the Colombis lieu-dit located on the western edge of the appellation.

Old-vine Clairette, fermented and aged in new demi-muids, the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Cuvee Speciale is another fine vintage for this wine, which has become one of the most highly regarded and sought-after white CdPs. Toasty and rich, it offers up scents of peach and honey more akin to white Burgundy than most Burg-heads would like to admit. It's medium to full-bodied in the mouth, with a silky texture and a long, vibrant finish.

This has attractively fresh pear and green-melon aromas and flavors with a sleek, smooth and fresh palate. Drink now.