The 2014 C?tes du Rh?ne Prestige Blanc (35% Grenache, 20% Clairette, 25% Viognier, 10% Roussanne and 10% Marsanne) offers textbook notes of spiced apple, honeysuckle and white flowers to go with a medium-bodied, clean, easy drinking style on the palate. It’s best enjoyed over the coming year or two.

A rock-solid white, Perrin’s 2013 C?tes du Rh?ne Prestige Blanc is a kitchen-sink blend of 35% Grenache Blanc, 25% Viognier, 20% Clairette and 10% each of Roussanne and Marsanne. Brought up all in stainless steel, it exhibits clean, crisp notes of apple blossom, citrus and white flowers to go with a medium-bodied, elegant and balanced profile on the palate. It’s quite good and should drink nicely over the coming year.

A step back from the 2013 (and maybe a hint that these should be drunk in their first year), the 2012 C?tes du Rh?ne Prestige Blanc has ripe apple and hints of minerality, yet seems flat and dull on the palate. Drink up if you have them. I was also able to retaste the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc, and it was still outstanding and similar to last year’s review.

The beauty is the 2005 Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Prestige, which could well be mistaken for a Chateauneuf du Pape in blind tastings. The wine has a deep ruby color and plenty of sweet kirsch liqueur notes intermixed with some dusty, loamy notes, pepper, spice, and abundant fruit, glycerin, and body. Drink it over the next 5-6 years. arious importers including T. Edward Wines, New York, NY; tel. (212) 233-1504 and Ideal Wines and Spirits, Medford, MA; tel. (781) 395-3300

This is a serviceable wine with classic Provencal notes of sweet-and-sour cherries, currants, licorice, spice box, and pepper. I thought the best of the group was potentially the 2004 Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Prestige. This is a wine to drink in the first two or so years of life.Importers: T. Edward Wines, New York, NY; tel. (212) 233-1504