Made from 60% Grenache Blanc and 40% Roussanne, the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc is fresh and crisp, with medium-bodied notes of green citrus, sappy herbs, mints and white peach. It’s a classy white that shows how good this vintage is for the whites from the region.

A solid, enjoyable white, the 2013 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc offers notions of green citrus, apple blossom and mint in its medium-bodied, juicy and nicely focused personality. Made from 60% Grenache Blanc and 40% Roussanne, and aged in a combination of demi-muid (Roussanne) and stainless steel, enjoy it over the coming 2-3 years.

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

The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape white is a relatively limited cuvee made from 70% Grenache blanc and 30% Roussanne. Only about 2,000 bottles are produced, and the wine is aged 70% in stainless steel and 30% in barrels. It is a straightforward, pleasant wine with hints of pineapple, pear and white currants. Medium-bodied and fresh, it is also best drunk over the next year. This is another estate that did not want to present their 2008 Chateauneuf du Pape (which I didn’t particularly care for last year), but both 2009s showed very well. Again, I question whether there needs to be a special cuvee, given the minor differences in quality, but perhaps the decision by so many producers to make prestige cuvees in 2009 will be justified with another 6-12 months of upbringing in tank, barrel, or foudres. Importer: Milton Road Trading, LLC, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 948-MRTC, and Vins du Midi Wine Importing, Eugene, OR; tel. (541) 485-0151