2021 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Cuvee Reservee

The tank-fermented and matured 2021 Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc Cuvée Réservée is roughly 60% Clairette, 20% Grenache Blanc and 10% each Bourboulenc and Roussanne. It's a plump, round white marked by mixed citrus fruit and hints of white peach and melon, yet it finishes bright and refreshing.

Delicate aromas of honeysuckle, lemon peel, white peach, pineapple, melon and a pinch of saffron introduce Pegau's 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Cuvée Réservée. This is a blend of 60% Clairette, 20% Grenache Blanc and the rest equally split between Roussanne and Bourboulenc. This is a medium to full-bodied, elegant white with moderate levels of fresh acidity and a bright finish.

Starting with the whites, exotic flowers, honeyed orchard fruits, orange blossom, and some almost Alsatian-like minerality all emerge on the nose of the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape Blanc, which turns richer and textured on the palate, with a beautiful mix of viscosity and vibrancy. Medium-bodied, balanced, and as always, a singular white, it will easily drink well for 4-5 years and evolve nicely over the following decade. It’s always a great tasting with Laurence Féraud, and the quality at this address remains sky-high, both with their reds and their whites. I was thrilled to see the 2020s show better this go-round, and this will certainly be a solid vintage.