Winemaker Notes
Vivid pale yellow. Stone fruits and floral aromas. Rich on palate, with plenty of mineral showing through. Long.
Blend: 50% Clairette, 20% Marsanne, 20% Roussane, 10% Viognier
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A barrel-fermented effort that spends just three months in oak, the 2019 Cotes du Rhone Villages Sablet Blanc Montmartel is 50% Roussanne, 25% Viognier, 15% Grenache Blanc and 10% Marsanne. It does have some toasty, cedary accents on the nose, but the ripe pineapple and apricot fruit comes through loud and clear. It's medium-bodied and plump but not overly rich, with a nice balance of honeyed ripeness and bright citrus on the finish. It should drink well for a 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.
An appellation full of some of the most delightful and particularly charming reds, Côtes du Rhône Villages includes the best villages of the greater Côtes du Rhône appellation. The possibility for an appellation promotion exists for every named village but each has to achieve and prove superior quality before an upgrade will be granted. The main ones today are Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Beaumes-de-Venise, Vinsobres, Rasteau and Cairanne.
The Gigondas appellation, while sometimes producing wines with a touch of rusticity, can often rival Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Its elevations are higher and soils richer in limestone. Vacqueyras reds are more concentrated than the more general Côtes du Rhône reds and must be at least one half comprised of Grenache by law. Beaumes de Venise also includes some excellent higher elevation spots for making snappy, fruity and spicy reds but historically the appellation’s esteem came from its fragrant, sweet and golden Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise.