2021 Chateau Mont Redon Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Southern Rhone

Based on Grenache Blanc and Picpoul, the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape Blanc has impressive aromatics of pear, honeyed apples, and chalky minerality to go with a medium-bodied, crisp, vibrant style on the palate. It’s not massive or concentrated, but it’s flawlessly balanced and has bright acidity as well as a great finish. Drink bottles over the coming year or three.

92 points jebdunnuck.com November 2022

Pale yellow robe. Aniseed, salting feature in a low profile bouquet, which is airborne more than de la terre, a touch escapist. The palate gives a linear, straight, clear fruited stream of mixed white fruits, is orderly, not captivating. Dried fruits, a note of toffee appear on the close. I would wait, leave this until around 2025+, so it can show more character and variety, and, hopefully, more southern depth, its place of origin more stated by then. 13.5°. Bottled June 2022. 2036-38 Nov 2022

3(4) stars drinkrhone.com November 2022

55% Grenache blanc, 20% Clairette, 10% Bourboulenc, 10% Roussanne and 5% Picpoul, whole-bunch pressed and cold settled, then cool-fermented in stainless steel at about 15 °C over 3 to 4 weeks, without malolactic conversion. Matured on fine lees for 4 to 8 months depending on vintage.

Mont-Redon have long been regarded as one of the best producers of white Châteauneuf-du-Pape (and are also one the largest) owning some of the best limestone terroir that suits some of the white varieties so perfectly.