Chateau de Vaudieu Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 14.5% abv75cl

The 18th century Château de Vaudieu has been in the Bréchet family for over 50 years and Laurent Bréchet, the grandson of the original owner, runs the estate today. The name ‘Vaudieu’ originates from ‘Vallée de Dieu’, or ‘Valley of God’, referencing the area's beauty around Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Vaudieu comprises 70 hectares of vineyards. 60 of these are planted with red varieties, on prized sites located just east of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, neighbouring the vineyards of the famed Château Rayas. Twenty-three plots have been identified here, each harvested at optimum maturity. The soils vary greatly, from sandy beds and calcareous hillsides to raised terraces of the famous ‘galets roulés’, offering huge potential for complexity in the wines. The fruit from the sandier soils lends aromatic elegance to the blend, while that from the ‘galets’ gives power and intensity.

The Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc is a blend of 52% Grenache Blanc, 27% Clairette and 21% Roussanne, sourced from the Château’s best plots found on limestone flint hillsides and terraces of ‘galets roulés’. Half the blend is aged in used oak for eight months to add a complex roundness to the blend. The finished wine is textured with notes of almond, ripe stone fruit and a powerful mineral edge on the long finish. ‘Les Vieilles Roussanne’ and ‘Clos de Belvédère’ have exceptional ageing potential. Discrete oak, vivid fruit and a refreshing salinity are framed by revitalising acidity and rich texture.