2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc

The 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc is 80% Roussanne, 15% Grenache Blanc and 5% other mixed varieties (Bourboulenc, Clairette, Picardan). Fermented and aged in a mix of barrels (30%) and tanks (70%), it offers up appealing flinty notes on the nose, accompanied by ripe pineapple and pear scents. It's medium to full-bodied on the palate, round, ripe and generous, with an expansive feel in the mouth and hints of warmth, honey and spice on the long finish. Lush and luxurious, it's drinkable young, but has a track record of aging well for as long as a decade depending on your preferences.

While the old-vine Roussanne cuvée from this estate gets all the attention from collectors, don’t make the mistake of discounting their classic Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc. The 2019 reveals a lighter gold hue as well as a beautiful and classic bouquet of honeyed citrus, quince, white flowers, bee’s wax, and a touch of flinty minerality. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it has flawless balance, nicely integrated acidity, and a great, minerally finish. You can enjoy bottles today with a decant or cellar for two to three decades, if you’re so inclined. Château de Beaucastel is located in the cooler, windier, and more pebbly clay soils of the northern part of Chateauneuf du Pape, and as such, were less affected by the devastating outbreak of mildew in the spring of 2018. In addition, Mourvèdre fared much better than Grenache in the vintage, all pointing to a great vintage for this estate in what was a more challenging vintage for much of the appellation. Marc compared 2018 to 2001 last year, and while I don’t think the quality, or concentration, is quite at that level, the purity of the tannins as well as elegance found in their 2018s share similarities to the 2001s. The 2019 whites from this estate showed beautifully, and these are world-class wines that deserve a place in every wine lover’s cellar. The general rule with the whites is to enjoy bottles on release and over the following 5-7 years, then they are best forgotten until around age 20.