Domaine Saint Préfert : Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2020

Full-bodied, rich and concentrated. Sappy, intense pear fruit with a touch of finger lime, finishing on juiced apricots. Classic, in a fairly rich and flamboyant style, but with a refreshing end.

The final vintage under the Saint Prefert label. Future vintages will be sold as Familie Isabel Ferrando. On the nose, you’ll find white peach, pineapple, candied lemon peel, and orange spice. On the palate, the freshness pops, bringing energy and lift to all the yellow fruits. The wine blends 60% Clairette with 40% Roussanne. You can enjoy this on release. This is the first vintage using glass vats to age a portion of the wine. 10% of the crop was aged in neutral glass vats, which add a lot of freshness to the wine that is instantly noticeable. Drink from 2022 to 2029.

Light golden yellow, silver reflections. Inviting bouquet of white flowers, hints of ripe mango, lime, a mineral-backed stone-fruit note and gorse. Juicy, elegant, soft notes of ripe honeydew melon, fine texture, discreet acidity, salty, subtle fruit expression on the finish, a silky food wine.

Lots of stone fruits, tangerine, white flowers, and honeyed mineral notes emerge from the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Blanc, a beautifully balanced, medium-bodied, seamless white with bright acidity and a great finish. It’s another terrific white from this team that readers will love to drink over the next 3–5 years or so. This is a 60/40 split of Clairette and Roussanne, aged entirely in demi-muids.

Attractive nose combining ripeness and depth. The level of ripeness is good, the roussanne is well tamed, and the clairette brings plenty of crystalline purity. Yellow fruits, candied lemon, gorse, and then a mineral note add depth. The palate opens broadly, with a powerful structure that doesn’t lose energy.

A blend of 60% Clairette and 40% Roussanne, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc features subtle cedar and vanilla shadings set against a backdrop of ripe white peaches, Anjou pear and mixed citrus. It's medium to full-bodied, silky and even a bit broad across the mid palate, then fresh, citrusy and zesty on the long finish. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.