2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Clos de Beauvenir

79% Roussanne, 21% Grenache Blanc. Bonfire smoke, cinnamon, tangy green apple and loads of mineral persistence with well-integrated vanilla spice. Dry, fibrous feel on the finish. Loads of substance and intensity here. (RH)

Offering more of everything, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Clos de Beauvenir is much more interesting. Made from a unique blend of 79% Roussanne and 21% Grenache Blanc, it boasts terrific notions of caramelized lemons, citrus blossom, brioche and crushed rocks. Rich, textured and balanced, with vibrant acidity, it's a terrific white I’d happily drink anytime over the coming decade or more. I continue to find the wines from Chateau la Nerthe outstanding, however, the shift towards leaner and leaner wines is troubling.

One of the few whites from the appellation I would be confident in aging is La Nerthe's 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Clos de Beauvenir. It's roughly 80-20 Roussanne and Grenache Blanc, fermented and aged in demi-muids and barriques, yet it is tight and focused. Stone fruit, melon and tangerine on the nose give way to notions of honey and bergamot on the palate.