Domaine Roger Sabon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Renaissance 2024
Domaine Roger Sabon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Renaissance 2024 is a dry, very full-bodied white from Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne (Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France), in the rich, round whites style. Acidity is gentle; oak influence is little. Good with cheese board, aperitif, roast vegetables, roast chicken.
| Wine | Sweet | Body | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Château De La Gardine, Châteauneuf-Du-Pape Cuvée Tradition Blanc 2021 Château De La Gardine · Rhône | £36.20 | |||
| Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc, Chante Cigale 2024 Domaine Chante Cigale · Rhône | £33.25 | |||
| Domaine de la Janasse, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2017 Domaine de la Janasse · Rhône | £51.80 | |||
| Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Cuvee Speciale Vieilles Clairettes Saint Prefert Magnum 2012 Domaine Saint Prefert · Rhône | £262.00 |
White Châteauneuf is one of the southern Rhône's great secrets. It makes up for less than 7% of the appellation's production, yet it's arguably the most compelling. Sabon's Renaissance is among the finest expressions: a blend led by Clairette and Grenache Blanc, with Roussanne adding weight and Bourboulenc keeping things lively. The 2024 vintage brought freshness the south doesn't always get, and it shows; there's a brightness that lifts the wine well above the sometimes heavy, oxidative style that gave white Châteauneuf a mixed reputation in lesser hands. What you get is richness without weight, generosity without blowsiness. White peach, warm stone, and a waxy, almost honeyed mid-palate that stops well short of sweetness, balanced by a saline, mineral finish that feels almost coastal. It's drinking well right now, but we'd give it another year or two in the cellar if you can manage it — the complexity is still assembling itself.