The only white, and clean, fresh and crisp, the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc (60% Grenache Blanc and 40% Roussanne) offers up bright lime, citrus blossom, honeysuckle and edgy minerality to go with a medium-bodied, focused feel on the palate. It’s nicely balanced and should be consumed over the coming 2-3 years. Drink now-2016.
Owned by the Chouvet family since 1989, these wines are consistently very good to outstanding. The 2011s are rock-solid and show the best of the vintage. The 2012s follow suit, with well-made, clean and fresh profiles. While I worry about the level of oak on the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape David et Goliath, it’s still a good bottle of wine.
Importer: Milton Road Trading, LLC, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 948-MRTC, and Vins du Midi Wine Importing, Eugene, OR; tel. (541) 485-0151