2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Roussanne V V
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Tasting notes
I tasted the 2016 Châteauneuf Du Pape Roussanne Vieilles Vignes just after bottling and was blown away, so I was thrilled to see it show so well now, almost a decade later. It's still youthfully gold-hued with a skyscraper-like style in its grilled citrus, tangerine, honeyed flower, mint, and crushed stone-like aromas and flavors. These carry to a full-bodied white that brings a concentrated, layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, remarkable mid-palate depth, integrated acidity, and a gorgeous finish. This is as good as any white wine in the world! It's drinking nicely today yet should hit full maturity in 4-5 years and have a decade of prime drinking thereafter. Drink 2026-2040.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
John Livingstone-Learmonth, Drink Rhône
More reviews and scores
Closed, heavyweight, thickly textured. A little flabby, in fact. Some nutty character gives complexity but there isn’t much in the way of breadth here. Yet? (RH)
Limpid gold. An impressively complex, mineral-tinged bouquet evokes ripe citrus and orchard fruits, toasted brioche, white flowers and honey, and hints of fennel and honey emerge with air. Shows superb delineation and powerful thrust on the palate, offering ripe orange, pear, melon, sweet butter and anise flavors that tighten up steadily on the back half. Powerful yet graceful in character, displaying excellent delineation and spicy cut on an extremely long, floral-accented finish that leaves a sappy pear nectar note behind. Cellar this one with complete confidence.
About the producer
This Châteauneuf-du-Pape estate is one of the Rhône’s most famous addresses. With a history stretching back to the 16th century, Beaucastel remains family owned and run, with the fifth generation of the Perrin family – Marc, Pierre, Thomas, Cécile, Charles, Matthieu and César – at the helm today.