Winery: Domaine du Grand Tinel
Varietals: White Grenache (60%)
Clairette (25%)
Roussanne (15%)
Located in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur region of Southern France, the commune known as Châteauneuf-du-Pape is celebrated for its red wines, rich and almost jammy with fruit notes of raspberry. So well- known are these reds that one can almost be forgiven for not knowing there are also white wines with that appellation.
Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc wines are much rarer than their Rouge cousins as well. Only 7% of the grapes grown in the commune are white grapes, most notably White Grenache, Roussanne, Picpoul and Clairette. Yet while harder to find and lesser known, many of these wines are definite keepers.
So you can imagine my joy at finding this 2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc by Domaine du Grand Tinel for sale. I liken it to being between a Chardonnay and a Sauvignon Blanc, retaining the best of both worlds. This wine is full bodied with a mouthfeel that is lush yet vibrant at the same time, with flavors of grapefruit, lemon, cantaloupe and lychee bursting on the palate. Undergirding the flavors is a minerality that lingers with the fruit to the finish, which is nice and long lasting. One wine taster notes that this Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc will age very well (“through 2035”) no doubt due in part to its acidity, but while it sounds like a great “cellar investment” the wine is too delicious right now to allow me to have that kind of patience. Looks like I may have to buy a couple more bottles.
Ed's Wineglass Adventures 