Winemaker Notes
Ideal as an apertif, gorgeous pairing with truffles, white meats, fishes, warmed pate cheeses (comte) and refined goat cheeses.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
More serious and rich, the 2012 Cotes du Ventoux La Quintessence Blanc is 80% Roussanne, 15% Clairette and 5% Viognier that was fermented and aged in new and 1-year-old barrels. Loaded with notions of tropical fruits, honeysuckle, toast and white peach, it is medium-bodied, beautifully fresh and shows loads of class and length on the finish. It also stays remarkably fresh and focused and will be versatile on the dinner table.
Full-bodied and flavorful, white Rhône blends originate from France’s Rhône Valley. Today these blends are also becoming popular in other regions. Typically some combination of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier form the basis of a white Rhône blend with varying degrees of flexibility depending on the exact appellation. Somm Secret—In the Northern Rhône, blends of Marsanne and Roussanne are common but the south retains more variety. Marsanne, Roussanne as well as Bourboulenc, Clairette, Picpoul and Ugni Blanc are typical.
Stretching across the slopes of the Ventoux mountain in the southeastern region of the Rhône River Valley, Cotes du Ventoux excels in the production of spicy and characterful red blends based on Grenache, Syrah, and other indigenous varieties. The region also produces rich and aromatic whites and rosés.