RHONE-WHITE

100% Marsanne, oak cask fermented and raised until malolactic fermentation completed, then raised 80% oak cask, 20% vat raised 9 months.
Table wax, honey and hazelnut aroma, with a ginger tang, orange zest - captures Marsanne well. The palate presents a butter-hazelnut combination, with a gradual drawing in of its grip, a tightening on the finish. It quietens along the palate, the flavour focused on light flan, toffee. It could have a bit more flair, expression.

WINE SPECTATOR 93 POINTS- "This delivers an intense stream of ripe peach, mango and Cavaillon melon flavors, carried by lightly singed almond and brioche notes, backed by a light orange blossom accent. Shows excellent depth, range and cut."

Historically, chateau la Nerthe is one of the most important properties in Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The vineyards atre planted with all thirteen varietals of the region. This wine resulting in a fresh, crisp and fruity wine, drinkable at a young age but also worthy of cellaring. organicaly produced.

In 1987 Laurence joined her father and created the Domaine du Pegau. Born to grow wine, she took courses in both viticulture and the beverage alcohol business. She sold wine in Paris, but wanted to come home. Excellent at both winegrowing and business, it took her but five years to build bottle sales from 10 to 100% of production! Since then, her purchases have expanded the vineyards in Chateauneuf to 42+ acres.

Laurence does not have a single arrogant or snobbish molecule in her body, but she is restless and ambitious. In 2012 a large property called Domaine de la Jouve came up for sale. Four miles from Pegau, it is on the banks of the Rhone in the town of Sorgues. It consists of 148 acres and a large rundown Chateau of 10,000 square feet. The ~101 acres of vineyards include 62 of Cotes du Rhone Villages and 12 of Cotes du Rhone, with the balance Vin de Table. Laurence bought it and rechristened it Chateau Pegau. For the first vintage, she and Paul learning their way, they declassified most of the Villages to Cotes du Rhone. The red Cotes du Rhone carries the name Chateau Pegau Cuvée Maclura. The Cotes du Rhone Villages (15% of the production) is Chateau Pegau Cuvée Setier. These are complemented by a white Cotes du Rhone, Chateau Pegau Cuvée Lône. The wines are emphatically not Chateauneuf-du-Pape, nor are they priced that way. However yields have been kept to the absurdly low limits permitted in Chateauneuf, and the wines have all of the density of that great Appellation.

Château Pegau is the name of Laurence and Paul Féraud's newly-purchased 100+ acre estate, located in Sorgues, less than 4 miles from Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The first vintage delivers, showcasing the estate's excellent terroir with the unmistakable imprint of Pegau. Named "Lône" after the small stream that runs next to the estate, parallel to the Rhône Tasting Notes: Offers aromas of acacia, nectarines and pears on the nose, with a touch of exotic fruit. Bright and well-balanced on the palate, with a long finish. Serve With: Enjoy as an aperitif or with a wide range of fish and shellfish. Château Pegau is the name of Laurence and Paul Féraud's newly-purchased 100+ acre estate, located in Sorgues, less than 4 miles from Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The first vintage delivers, showcasing the estate's excellent terroir with the unmistakable imprint of Pegau. Named "Lône" after the small stream that runs next to the estate, parallel to the Rhône Tasting Notes: Offers aromas of acacia, nectarines and pears on the nose, with a touch of exotic fruit. Bright and well-balanced on the palate, with a long finish. Serve With: Enjoy as an aperitif or with a wide range of fish and shellfish.

WINE SPECTATOR 91 POINTS - "A light whiff of brioche weaves around a core of plantain, macadamia nut and lemon zest flavors, followed by a honeysuckle hint that chimes in on the finish. Drink now. 350 cases imported."

Domaine Belle owns 31 hectares of vines in the Northern Rhone Valley. Their best vines are in Hermitage in the Les Murets and Diognieres vineyards, which have a terroir of granite, limestone, sand and gravel soils. However, many of those vines are located in soils with more sand and limestone. Domaine Belle produces red and white wine in other Northern Rhone appellations including Crozes Hermitage and St. Joseph. In Hermitage, Domaine Belle has about 1.5 hectares of vines planted in the Doignoeres and Murets lieux-dits. They have old vines, some of which are more than 50 years of age. Starting with the 2014 vintage, Domaine Belle began using 100% organic farming techniques in all their vineyards.

To produce the white wine of Domaine Belle, vinification takes place in a combination of vessels; 100% new French oak barrels and, or stainless steel tanks. This can vary depending on the vintage and the appellation. Malolactic fermentation takes place in the same combination of vessels. The wine is made from a blend of 75% Marsanne and 25% Roussanne , however, the blend can vary depending on the vintage. The wine is bottled after 10 to 12 months of aging.

Vines yield 30 hl/ha
Traditionally produced
Grapes ferment in stainless steel at 15°C
Neutral spirit (7-10%) is added to stop fermentation
Wine ages in cement and stainless steel before bottling
Final wine has 110 grams per liter of residual sugar, with 15% alcohol

50% Grenache Blanc 25% Clairette, 25% Bourboulenc

Aromas of quince, citrus, and tropical fruits. Full bodied with sharp acidity, and round texture. This dry wine invites you to the culinary pleasures of an excellent white wine full of freshness. It's a perfect companion to seafood, white meat and it is very appreciated at the time of aperitif.

Beaumes-de-Venise is a Rhône appellation (estd. 1945) for sweet white wines, located just south of Gigondas.

A unique feature of the way the grapes ripen is the way in which the warmth of the sun reflects and radiates down over the vines from the huge vertical limestone slabs of the Dentelles de Montmirail - the 'Lace of Montmirail'.The wine is produced from a single variety, the small berried Muscat which is also known as the Muscat de Frontignan, and must contain a minimum alcohol level of 15%.

Aperitifs desserts : sorbets,fruit salads, not to mention cheesecake or wonderful profiteroles.Fromage blanc,blue cheese.

eROBERT PARKER 91 POINTS: This classic estate continues to make strides, and the 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Réservée Blanc is one of the best example of this cuvée to date. Possessing a touch of Alsatian Riesling character in its mineral, honeycomb, green herbs, and wet stone-like aromas and flavors, this beauty is medium-bodied, beautifully textured, seamless and elegant on the palate, with both textural richness and freshness. I like it now, but it will keep for over a decade.

The name "Old Lazaret" comes from munks "Lazarists" who in the 17th century had a hospice for old, poor and disabled persons on the place, where the domain is placed today.
45% Grenache Blanc, 30% Clairette, 20% Bourboulenc and 5% Roussanne.

VINOUSMEDIA 90-92 POINTS: "(partially fermented in cement tanks, then finished and aged in oak barrels of varying size, 15% of them new; 70% malo): Brilliant straw. Lively scents of pear and lemon curd pick up smoky mineral and tarragon accents as the wine opens up. Silky and seamless on the palate, offering nervy orchard fruit and citrus fruit flavors energized by juicy acidity and a gingery nuance. Shows impressive power and intensity on the penetrating finish, which leaves behind notes of bitter pear skin and dusty minerals."

Chef-turned-Winemaker Francois Villard's "Les Contours de Deponcins" VdP is an exceptional value from grapes grown just outside of the appellation on his 12 hectare estate. A true classic, this 100% Viognier pairs perfectly with soft shell crab. Viognier's purest expression arguably comes from the Northern Rhone's Condrieu AOP. This village is one of the smallest in France producing miniscule quantities of seductive, aromatic white wine at high prices. Chef-turned-Winemaker Francois Villard's "Les Contours de Deponcins" VdP is an exceptional value from grapes grown just outside of the appellation on his 12 hectare estate. A true classic, this 100% Viognier pairs perfectly and effortlessly with soft shells, pad thai and roasted white meats.

BIODYNAMIC

With 35 hectares of vines nestled into the Catalonian foot hills of the Corbières appellation, the Gardies family has been making wine for 7 generations. Jean Gardies took over the estate in the late 90’s to ensure that the wines were being made to express their full potential of finesse and complexity.
crisp, dry, lots of minerals

eROBERT PARKER 91-93 POINTS: "Scheduled to be bottled this coming February and slightly lighter in style, the 2011 Saint-Joseph Vignes de l’Hospice (100% Syrah aged 30 months in 100% new French oak) offers perfumed spice, red currants, blackberry and bouquet garni-styled aromatics, medium to full-body and an overall seamless, forward and silky profile. It should be ready to go on release, yet evolve gracefully for 10-15 years."

eROBERT PARKER 94 POINTS: "The 2014 St Joseph Lieu Dit St Joseph Blanc is 100% Marsanne that was raised all in wood, with the normal 100% new oak regime pulled back to just 50%. It's a rock star white that plays in the top handful of white from the appellation, and would easily stand in a lineup of top Hermitage Blanc as well. Caramelized peaches, citrus, almond paste, honeysuckle and a kiss of classy oak all emerge from this full-bodied, layered, vibrant beauty. I like it now, but it will drink nicely through 2029."

ROBERT PARKER 95 POINTS: "Guigal’s 2015 Condrieu is a blockbuster that, if not for its big brother, would be one of the wines of the vintage. Aged in one-third new barrels and two-thirds in tank, it’s a rich, unctuous, thrillingly textured beauty that has plenty of orange blossom, flower oil, tangerine and peach. Fruit-loaded, with just a touch of minerality, it should be drunk over the coming 2-4 years."

As always, my visit with Marcel and Philippe Guigal is one of the highlights of my entire time spent working in the northern Rhône. As I think the list of wines demonstrate, this is a huge lineup, yet the theme across the entire range is incredible quality. Looking at the top Côte Rôties, the current releases in bottle are the 2012s and these are rich, supple, sexy, even flamboyant wines that will be relatively approachable in their youth, yet have broad drink windows. The 2013s are much more backward and restrained, and built for the long haul, but the long élevage favored at this estate is certainly helping to soften the tannin and give the wines a suppler texture. As to the 2014s, I was shocked at the depth and density this team was able to get in these wines, but this is another vintage that will be approachable in its youth. Lastly, and from vintage described by Marcel as the best of his lifetime (how’s that for perspective?), the 2015s are inky and primordial, with mind-boggling depth and density. These will be reviewed two to three more times before release, but start saving today! Lastly, it’s also worth pointing out that the estate has started utilizing a new cork technique that guarantees no TCA. This doesn’t come cheap and is close to two Euros per cork, but it’s just another example of the attention to detail and the level of effort that this estate puts forth to ensure the quality in the bottle. Hats off to them.

ROBERT PARKER 99 POINTS: "Easily one of the greatest Condrieu I’ve ever tasted is the 2015 Condrieu La Doriane. A wine that needs to be tasted to be believed, it possesses a huge nose of toasted brioche, liquid rocks, apricot, flower oil and salty minerality. Unctuous, full-bodied, massively rich, yet also elegant and graceful, with beautiful freshness, enjoy this tour de force over the coming 5-6 years."

The wine is made from pure Roussanne from mature rootstock that hails from the walled 4-hectare 'Clos Forentin' vineyard which the Chaves acquired in 2009. Fewer than 400 cases are produced annually and it is popular on export markets as with many Chave wines. It has lovely almond and acacia flower scents and wonderfully-textured white stone fruit palate with a long, elegant finish.

WINERY NOTES - " Little by little our grapes enter the bottle Finesse and purity of our wines. Respect and authenticity of the terroir, these are the criteria which guide our work every single day. Biodynamism guarantees this typicity of the singular terroir attaining wines which are all at once living, subtle and complex. The fermentation develops naturally without addition of yeasts or sulphur. The optimal maturity which we look for allows us to carry out long and slow macerations so as to preserve the source of our grapes. The influences of the lunar calendar guides the rhythm of our work of de-vatting right through to the bottling favouring fruit and flower days.
This is a dry wine, with a nose that expresses aromas of summer fruit; white peach, apricot. In the mouth it is straight, tight, a little saline expressing a beautiful minerality, with a rich, long, airy finish. To be consumed as an aperitif, with white meats, accompanying fish or shellfish.

"Readers should be searching out the super inexpensive, bargain priced La Vieille Ferme offerings." - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 2010

Jean Pierre Perrin established La Vieille Ferme over 35 years ago, when he chose to produce an inexpensive,straight forward Rhone wine to sell to French wine lovers. He used the same grape varieties in similar proportions tothose planted at the family's Chateau de Beaucastel, in a similar vinification process. The result was an immediatesuccess in France, a wine of character and style in keeping with its Beaucastel heritage. The 2015 La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Luberon blanc is a delicious blend of Roussanne, Bourboulenc and Grenache Blanc. A crisp, citrusy, refreshing, light-bodied, flavorful white meant to be consumed in its first year of life.

ROBERT PARKER 91 POINTS:The 2014 Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc is another outstanding white from this estate. Made from equal parts Clairette and Roussanne raised all in stainless steel, it gives up classy notes of honeysuckle, tangerine, lemon rind and a kiss of minerality. Bright, fresh and elegant, it continues to gain depth and richness with air, has plenty of fruit and a great finish. Drink it over the coming couple of years

ROBERT PARKER 93 POINTS: "The 2010 Hermitage La Chapelle Blanc is 100% Marsanne from the vineyard known as Maison Blanche situated at the top of the Hermitage appellation, above the famed lieu-dit for white Hermitage, Les Rocoules. This cuvee is very limited in availability so I’ll keep my notes brief. Aromas of white currants, pepper, quince and apricot marmalade are present in this full-bodied, gorgeously rich, pure, stunning white. Completely locked down at present, it should be forgotten for 8-10 years and drunk over the following two decades. It will unquestionably be a very long-lived white wine."