2012 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Roussanne Vieilles Vignes (aged in a 50/50 blend of stainless steel tanks and oak barrels for eight months): Vivid yellow. An explosively perfumed bouquet evokes ripe melon, nectarine and mango, and powerful mineral and floral elements add vivacity and lift. Broad, sappy and deeply concentrated, offering intense orchard fruit and pit fruit flavors that stain the palate while showing surprising vivacity. Strikes a deft balance between richness and finesse, picking up ginger and honey flourishes on the back half. Clings with outstanding energy and persistence on the finish, leaving sappy pear nectar and floral notes behind.
Ce sont les Temps Modernes, le chef d'oeuvre de Charlie Chaplin, où il refait le monde plutôt que de se soumettre à lui. La couleur est or jaune. Dans le bouquet, de délicates et déterminées fragrances salées résistent vaillamment aux très contemporains parfums de fumée, de crème brûlée et de figues séchées qui les entourent. L'attaque est débordée par les arômes d'abricots, de marmelade et de croissant au beurre qui tapissent le palais. La rétro-olfaction est délicieusement turbulente. Les exhalaisons de zestes d'agrumes, de lavande et de verveine y dynamitent tous les sens du dégustateur. En finale, de subtiles effluves d'amandes déconstruisent un gigantesque et solide édifice de mangues, de miel, d'ananas et de melon de Cavaillon. Très émouvant, comme toujours.
Complet, longueur remarquable et caractère unique dans l'appellation. Un des sommets du Rhône en Blanc.
This white Chateauneuf du Pape has notes of marmalade, buttered citrus, orange rind and lavender. A good body with voluptuously textured white very rich, that's balanced by gorgeous purity and freshness. It is a very complex wine which pair very well with grilled fish, seafood and cheeses.
Gorgeous, with lush mango, creamed pineapple and Cavaillon melon fruit flavors that glide along, featuring a light fresh butter edge that holds sway on the finish. Despite the alluring, tropical profile, the lovely backdrop of verbena and wet stone should blossom with cellaring.
Even more impressive and coming from a single parcel of vines planted in 1909, the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape Roussanne Vieilles Vignes is an off-the-hook effort and certainly the greatest white produced in the Southern Rhone. Offering up exuberant and perfumed notes of marmalade, buttered citrus, orange rind and lavender, this full-bodied voluptuously textured white has knockout richness that’s balanced by gorgeous purity and freshness. Always showing brilliantly in their youth, this cuvee can shut down and be hard to judge when (or if) it will come back around. Per the Perrin family, every vintage goes through this stage and re-emerges at some point. You can drink them in their exuberant youth (which is my recommendation), or cellar them and hope for the best.
Less heavy and more lifted and aromatic than the regular bottling. Very sweet palate entry and then something nutty and rewarding with a hint of marzipan. Round and well balanced – though maybe not as refreshing as the regluar? It is bigger and softer.
Caractère plus nerveux et un rien plus fin que 2011, forme aussi riche, grande longueur, sur le miel de fleurs, l’abricot et un début de beurré qui fait partie du type. Grand vin.