2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Clairettes de Gabriel Blanc Chateau de Vaudieu

Last of the whites, the 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Clairette De Gabriel Blanc checks in as 100% Clairette brought up in equal parts new and used barrels. It's medium-gold hue is followed by a gorgeous perfume of white peach, tart pineapple, brioche, and subtle honeyed white flower-like nuances. It's medium to full-bodied, has a focused, pure, elegant mouthfeel, beautiful depth, and a great finish. It's another remarkable white from this talented team that will benefit from a year or two of bottle age and keep for a decade.

A single-varietal Clairette, the 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Les Clairettes de Gabriel aged for nine months in 50/50 new and old oak barriques. Prominent straw, lemon peel, crushed flower, apple skin, cedar and discrete vanilla notes are all brought forward. Full-bodied, rich and expressive, this is an excellent white Châteauneuf from Château de Vaudieu. It closes with good length on the layered finale.