2009 Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc

Description

2009 Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc

AWhitewine from Southern Rhne, Rhone Valley, France. Made from GrenacheBlanc.

#10Wine SpectatorTop 100 of 2010

Critical Acclaim

96 Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

The only way to convince consumers (and I count myself among this group) that white Chteauneufs can age is to pull out examples such as this. Clos des Papes’s 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc is the greatest aged white CdP I’ve ever tried. There are some oily, terpene-like characters but also ripe, slightly honeyed pineapple notes in this round, medium to full-bodied wine that retains a great sense of freshnesseven grapefruity citrus on the long, long finish. Sure, not all white CdPs age like this, but when they do..

95 Wine Spectator

Clos des Papes is widely recognized for its red cuve (its 2005 earned Wine of the Year in 2007), but this estate also produces one of the appellation’s best whites. From the Southern Rhne’s excellent 2009 vintage, this wine blends equal parts Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Roussanne, Picpoul and Bourboulenc. To retain freshness, Vincent Avril fermented the wine in stainless steel tanks and avoided malolactic conversion. This white will benefit from a few years in the cellar.