Some lovely white Châteauneufs have been made in 2020 with freshness and fruit to the fore. Expressions differ with the varying blends, the only issue being the élevage and successful integration of oak.
The 81 tasting notes below are grouped by appellation then listed in alphabetical order of producer (sur)name – but you can change this.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
34% Grenache Blanc, 34% Roussanne, 32% Clairette. Aged 10 months...
45% Grenache Blanc, 25% Roussanne, 15% Bourboulenc, 15%...
34% Grenache Blanc, 33% Roussanne, 33% Clairette Rose. Aged six...
42% Clairette, 32% Roussanne, 11% Bourboulenc, 10% Grenache...
40% Grenache Blanc, 40% Roussanne, 20% Bourboulenc. Aged five...
40% Clairette, 30% Bourboulenc, 15% Grenache Blanc, 15%...
25% Grenache Blanc, 25% Clairette, 20% Clairette Rose, 20%...
35% Grenache Blanc, 35% Roussanne, 20% Clairette, 10%...
100% Roussanne. Aged eight months in new oak (50%) and tank (50%...
80% Roussanne, 10% Clairette, 10% Grenache Blanc. Aged six...
20% Grenache Blanc, 20% Picpoul Blanc, 20% Clairette, 20%...
55% Grenache Blanc, 45% Clairette. Aged five months in demi-muid...
50% Roussanne, 25% Grenache Blanc, 25% Clairette. Aged nine...
40% Clairette, 30% Roussanne, 14% Bourboulenc, 10% Grenache...
40% Grenache Blanc, 30% Clairette, 20% Bourboulenc, 10%...
Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Picpoul Blanc...
40% Roussanne, 30% Grenache Blanc, 30% Clairette. Aged four...
45% Grenache Blanc, 35% Roussanne, 10% Bourboulenc, 10%...
40% Grenache Blanc, 40% Clairette, 20% Bourboulenc. Aged in 100%...
40% Clairette, 25% Grenache Blanc, 25% Bourboulenc, 10%...
70% Clairette, 30% Grenache Blanc. Aged in tank. Organic.
Apple...
70% Roussanne, 20% Grenache Blanc, 10% Picpoul Blanc. Aged 17...
60% Grenache Blanc, 40% Roussanne. Aged 12 months in old barrels...
35% Roussanne, 35% Grenache Blanc, 15% Bourboulenc, 15%...
Green-apple notes with a tanginess to the palate. Acidity sticks...
60% Roussanne, 30% Clairette, 10% Grenache Blanc. Aged six...
30% Grenache Blanc, 20% Roussanne, 20% Clairette, 20%...
Reticent and reserved, the palate with a round, creamy edge and...
50% Grenache Blanc, 25% Roussanne, 15% Clairette, 10%...
80% Grenache Blanc, 10% Roussanne, 7% Clairette, 3% Bourboulenc...
51% Grenache Blanc, 24% Bourboulenc, 14% Clairette, 5% Roussanne...
50% Roussanne, 50% Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc...
60% Grenache Blanc, 30% Clairette, 10% Bourboulenc. Aged in...
60% Grenache Blanc, 20% Roussanne, 20% Clairette. Aged seven...
50% Grenache Blanc, 50% Roussanne. Aged nine months in old...
60% Clairette, 40% Roussanne. Aged six months in tanks. Organic...
60% Grenache Blanc, 10% Picardan, 10% Picpoul Blanc, 10%...
70% Roussanne, 30% Bourboulenc. Aged nine months in tank (60%)...
70% Grenache Blanc, 30% Bourboulenc. Aged eight months in tank...
50% Clairette, 40% Grenache Blanc, 5% Picpoul Blanc, 5%...
70% Grenache Blanc, 15% Bourboulenc, 15% Clairette. Aged in tank...
50% Clairette, 30% Grenache Blanc, 20% Bourboulenc. Aged seven...
Grassy and a touch musty, the palate supple but lacking in zest...
55% Grenache Blanc, 20% Clairette, 15% Roussanne, 10% Picpoul...
47% Roussanne, 38% Grenache Blanc, 13% Clairette, 2% Bourboulenc...
25% Grenache Blanc, 25% Roussanne, 25% Bourboulenc, 25%...
60% Clairette, 20% Grenache Blanc, 10% Roussanne, 10%...
70% Grenache Blanc, 20% Clairette, 10% Bourboulenc. Aged in demi...
50% Grenache Blanc, 20% Roussanne, 20% Clairette, 7% Picardan, 3...
40% Grenache Blanc, 20% Roussanne, 20% Clairette Rose, 10%...
50% Grenache Blanc, 20% Roussanne, 20% Clairette, 10%...
40% Roussanne, 40% Clairette, 20% Grenache Blanc. Aged eight...
Tropical notes with a hint of oak. Full and round but sweet and...
40% Grenache Blanc, 40% Bourboulenc, 10% Roussanne, 10%...
50% Grenache Blanc, 25% Clairette, 25% Bourboulenc. Aged in old...
33% Roussanne, 29% Clairette, 28% Grenache Blanc, 10%...
60% Grenache Blanc, 30% Roussanne, 10% Clairette. Aged six...
35% Clairette, 25% Grenache Blanc, 25% Roussanne, 15%...
60% Clairette, 40% Grenache Blanc. Aged in tank.
Apple and apple...
60% Clairette, 40% Roussanne. Aged six months in demi-muid...
35% Grenache Blanc, 30% Clairette, 15% Bourboulenc, 15%...
70% Clairette, 30% Grenache Blanc. Aged in tank.
Perhaps a...
Fresh and floral, the palate with a lighter touch. Plenty of...
40% Grenache Blanc, 30% Bourboulenc, 20% Clairette, 10%...
34% Grenache Blanc, 33% Roussanne, 33% Clairette. Aged nine...
Vacqueyras
Tank sample. Toasty, stone-fruit aroma. Palate full and round...
60% Grenache Blanc, 20% Clairette, 10% Bourboulenc, 10% Viognier...
45% Marsanne, 25% Roussanne, 15% Grenache Blanc, 15% Viognier.
G...
80% Grenache Blanc, 20% Clairette. Organic.
Restrained nose with...
50% Clairette, 30% Roussanne, 20% Grenache Blanc. Aged nine...
50% Roussanne, 25% Clairette, 25% Viognier. Aged in tank (80%)...
60% Grenache Blanc, 20% Marsanne, 20% Roussanne.
Subtly aromatic...
Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne. Aged in tank (50%) and...
40% Grenache Blanc, 40% Clairette, 20% Marsanne. Organic.
Light...
40% Clairette, 40% Roussanne, 10% Grenache Blanc, 10% Viognier...
50% Viognier, 25% Roussanne, 20% Marsanne, 5% Clairette. Aged in...
50% Grenache Blanc, 25% Clairette, 25% Roussanne. Organic.
Attra...
50% Bourboulenc, 25% Grenache Blanc, 25% Roussanne. Biodynamic.
...
45% Clairette, 30% Roussanne, 16% Grenache Blanc, 9% Viognier...
25% Grenache Blanc, 25% Bourboulenc, 25% Marsanne, 25% Viognier...
70% Clairette, 20% Grenache Blanc, 10% Viognier. Aged in tank.
A...
Images © Christophe Grilhé, courtesy of Inter Rhône.
