Winemaker Notes
Golden white with bright reflections. Complex nose mixing aromas of white flowers and exotic fruits (pineapple) and spices (safran, curry). The wine is ample and round on the palate. Rich and balanced at the same time, with a good freshness, saltiness, and a powerful aromatic intensity.
Blend: 80% Roussanne, 20% Clairette
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Even better, with another level of richness and depth, the 2018 Ventoux Quintessence Blanc is based on 80% Roussanne and 20% Clairette, all from limestone soils, that was mostly vinified in barrel and aged in concrete tanks. It has rock star notes of white peach, white flowers, brioche, and subtle background oak. Both rich and fresh, it’s a concentrated, serious white that delivers the goods. Bravo!
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Ventoux Quintessence Blanc is a blend of 80% barrel-fermented Roussanne and 20% tank-fermented Clairette. Dry toast and grilled pineapple notes appear on the nose of this crisp, medium-bodied offering, which stays tight and focused through the long, citrusy finish. Drink it over the next couple of 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.
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.