Chateau Beaucastel Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc Roussanne Vieilles Vignes 2020 (RP97)

Country:              France
Region:                Rhone Valley Rating:                 RP97, WS96, JS96
Grape Variety:  100% Roussanne
Type of Wine:    White Wine
Bottle Size:        750ml

By Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 97
From vines planted in 1909, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Roussanne Vieilles Vignes is entirely barrel-fermented and matured, half in new oak from Chassin and half in second-use steam-bent barriques from Dargaud & Jaegle. It's much like the regular Beaucastel CdP Blanc, but more—and sometimes more really is more. With waves of honeyed pear and pineapple fruit folded together on the full-bodied palate, it's creamy and rich, yet vibrant and refreshing on the long, luxurious finish. The aging curve of this wine is never easy to predict, as some vintages close up tight soon after release only to open up after several years in the cellar, while others seem to exude opulence throughout their life.

Wine Spectator 96
Alluring, with a matchstick hint weaving around notes of white peach, white nectarine and apricot, while quinine and bitter almond accents fuel the finish. There's serious latent length here, thanks to a deeply imbedded spine that lets the fruit play out effortlessly. Roussanne. Drink now through 2035.

James Suckling 96
Wonderful nose of acacia honey and ripe apricot. Super-concentrated with great textural complexity, this white Chateauneuf is built on a lavish scale, but is so precise and glides off into the far distance. 100% roussanne from ancient vines. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.