Winemaker Notes
For many years we sold an easy-going Viognier from Chateau Pesquie but when additional plantings of Grenache Blanc, Clairette, and Roussanne became available we worked with the Chaudière family to create a Terrasses Blanc to complement the Rouge and Rosé that have been popular staples in the US market for over twenty years. Fermented and aged entirely in tank, the classic floral and pit fruit flavors and aromas of the Viognier are tempered by the crispness of Clairette and the creamy weight of Roussanne and Grenache Blanc.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Starting with the 2019 Ventoux Terrasses Blanc from this leading estate in the Ventoux, this beauty has a fresh, more lively, vibrant style, which makes sense given that this estate is located in the Ventoux appellation, at a higher elevation and with cooler limestone soils. Notes of honeyed peach, sauteed lime, a touch of salty minerality, and plenty of white flowers all emerge from this terrific white, which is medium-bodied and offers bright acidity along with a juicy, saliva-inducing finish. It’s ideal for drinking over the coming 2-3 years, although in this case, I actually wouldn’t be surprised to see it keep longer.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Ventoux Terrasses Blanc is the same blend as the 2018: 40% Viognier, 20% Roussanne, 20% Clairette and 20% Grenache Blanc, all vinified and matured in stainless steel. On the nose, it's spicy and floral, with some melon-like fruit, while the medium-bodied palate is silky-textured, fresh and clean, with mouthwatering pineapple notes on finish.
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.