Winemaker Notes
Ideal as an apertif, gorgeous pairing with truffles, white meats, fishes, warmed pate cheeses (comte) and refined goat cheeses.
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A terrific white from this under the radar appellation, the 2014 Cotes du Ventoux la Quintessence Blanc is a blend of 80% Roussanne and 20% Clairette, from higher elevation limestone soils, that’s aged in a combination of stainless steel (Clairette) and barrel (Roussanne). Made in a crisp, racy, medium-bodied style, it offers exotic notes of lychee nut, honeyed grapefruit, tangerine and even orange blossom on the nose. Borderline lean, it gains a touch more richness with time, has beautiful fruit and a clean, dry finish. It will drink well for 2-3 years.
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.
Typically thought of as a baby Chateâuneuf-du-Pape, the term Côtes du Rhône actually doesn’t merely apply to the flatter outskirts of the major southern Rhône appellations, it also includes the fringes of well-respected northern Rhône appellations. White wines can be produced under the appellation name, but very little is actually made.
The region offers some of the best values in France and even some first-rate and age-worthy reds. Red wine varieties include most of the Chateâuneuf-du-Pape varieties like Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, and Counoise, as well as Carignan. White grapes grown include Grenache blanc, Roussanne and Viognier, among others.