Château de Vaudieu Les Vieilles Roussanne Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2022
£73.75
The wine
A rare cuvée of pure old-vine Roussanne from Vaudieu, one of the Rhône's noblest white grapes. Barrel-fermented and lees-aged to coax out its full richness.
Aromas of quince, apricot, beeswax and toasted nuts. The palate is broad and layered, with honeyed depth balanced by fresh acidity and a long, savoury finish. A white of remarkable presence.
Serve with roast poultry, lobster or richer cheeses. Lightly chilled, and worth decanting; it will reward a few years of age.
The producer
Château de Vaudieu
View all Château de Vaudieu winesChâteau de Vaudieu is one of the most striking estates in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a rare walled property whose vineyards lie in a single ring around the eighteenth-century château. Built in 1767, it is among the appellation's grandest addresses. Today it is farmed by the Bréchet family with quiet ambition.
The vineyards spread across the famous galets roulés, the rolled pebbles that store the Provençal heat and release it to the vines by night. Grenache leads, as tradition demands, supported by Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Old vines and low yields give the wines their depth and concentration.
Winemaking respects the classical Châteauneuf template while chasing precision and freshness. Parcels are vinified separately, the reds built for structure and the whites for texture and length. Oak is used with restraint, always in service of the fruit.
From the supple Closerie cuvée to the powerful single-parcel bottlings, Vaudieu offers the full range of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. These are wines of southern warmth and genuine class, generous in youth and rewarding with age.
