The 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape blanc is made from 40% white Grenache, 30% Roussanne, and 30% Clairette. It is put through full malolactic and aged in barrel, but the wood is not a factor in the wine’s aromatics or flavors. Crisp underlying acidity buttresses a relatively full-bodied, fleshy wine with a real taste of the soil. As I said last year, there is something very Alsatian Riesling about the character of this wine. It is medium to full-bodied, dry, crisp, and fresh. Drink it over the next 3-4 years. Tasting at Janasse is fun. It is a large estate of 195 acres with 45 of them situated in Chateauneuf du Pape. Even if you weren’t obsessed with their fabulous Chateauneuf du Papes, they have a portfolio of brilliant wines from Cotes du Rhone as well as a vin de pays. Young proprietor Christophe Sabon, working with his wife and father, continues to fine-tune his winemaking skills. He is already brilliant at reds and shows increasing confidence in the quality of his white wine cuvees. Importer: Eric Solomon, European Cellars, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 358-1565