Appellation: Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Cuvée: Blanc.
Colour: White.
Grapes: Grenache Blanc 35%, Clairette 35%, Roussanne 15% and Bourboulenc 15%.
About: a classic blend of both grape varieties and soils, this white is all about the elegance that comes from working traditionally to express terroir purity. Quite different from most modern white Châteauneuf-du-Papes (or single varietal wines)..
Vines
Location: in the south of the Appellation and near the village.
Size ha: 1.5.
Age: vines planted in 1965 and 1985.
Soils: from galets roulés with clay subsoils near La Nerthe and from some clay sand limestone near the Domaine.
Exposition: various.
Altitude: 60 to 80m.
Training: .
Farming: farmed organically, by hand as well as by machine.
Average yield hl/ha: 40.
Climate: Mediterranean.
Winemaking
Whole bunches are very slowly pressed and the juice allowed to settle before being fermented 100% in enamel tank for 4 weeks using only wild yeasts, with the malo blocked. The wine is matured for 5 months in tank with around 20% in old oak barriques. The wine is bottled very lightly filtered (with regret and in order to ensure clarity and hygiene – there may still be a small deposit).
Vintage Notes 2017
Yield hl/ha: 25.
Harvested: early September.
Bottles produced: 3,200.
Date bottled: 2018-02.
Alcohol %: 14.25.
SO2 Total: 125.
Tasting: tons of fruit, peach, apricot, pear, as well as almond, lavender, floral and spicy notes, soft, refreshing, silky.
Vintage Notes 2018
A very challenging year with mildew pressure resulting in crop losses and a distinctly lighter vegetal character to the wines, meaning terrific drinkability and lower alcohol. No Bourboulenc this year.
Yield hl/ha: 15.
Date harvested: early September.
Date bottled: 2019-03
Bottles produced: 2,200
Alcohol %: 13.59
SO2 Total: 117 (8 Free)
Closure: cork
Tasting: soft, honeyed, herbal, lavender, apple and apricot fruit, salty acidity, refreshing, natural.