2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Domaine des Sénéchaux, Rhône

2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Domaine des Sénéchaux, Rhône

Product: 20198005944
 
2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Domaine des Sénéchaux, Rhône

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Available by the case In Bond. Pricing excludes duty and VAT, which must be paid separately before delivery. Storage charges apply.
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Description

This is made from a blend of 35% Roussane, 30% Clairette, 27% Grenache Blanc and 8% Bourboulenc, grown on three hectares of sandy-clay, south-westerly soils. The nose is bright and floral, while the medium-bodied palate introduces layers of white peaches and juicy apricots. The finish is long and fresh, with a well-integrated brush of oak, and touch of lemon rind. Drink now to 2028.

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Critics reviews

Jancis Robinson MW17/20
34% Roussanne, 31% Clairette, 27% Grenache Blanc, 8% Bourboulenc. 25% aged in old oak, 75% aged in stainless steel.Neutral nose. Palate is more flavoursome, though not as forthright as you might expect. Orchard fruit, nectarine, melon and light spice are correct for the style. Well-balanced acidity, as well as peach-skin pithiness to provide structure. Good, traditional Châteauneuf that has been cleverly blended.

Drink 2020 - 2023

Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com (Aug 2021)
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Wine Advocate93/100
Ripe melon and pear aromas emerge on the nose of the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc, a blend that includes roughly equal proportions of Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne, with a splash of Bourboulenc. Made and matured in a mix of older barrels and stainless steel, it's plump and medium to full-bodied, with a slightly honeyed, silky feel and ample length on the finish. It looks like one of the best Sénéchaux blancs to date.

Drink 2020 - 2025

Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate (Oct 2020) Read more
Decanter93/100
Petal-soft style with a great sense of aromatic freshness, it's so appealing. Long, gently stony finish with good sense of tension. Grown on sandstone and limestone, no new oak.

Drink 2020 - 2023

Matt Walls, Decanter.com (Oct 2020) Read more

About this WINE

Domaine des Senechaux

Domaine des Senechaux

Domaine des Sénéchaux is an excellent example of how a large concern – in this case the Cazes family of Château Lynch-Bages in Bordeaux – should manage its purchase by investing as and where necessary. They have done this without forsaking the historical essence of the domaine, personified by longstanding régisseur Bernard Tranchecoste. Domaine des Sénéchaux dates from the 14th century, making it one of the oldest wineries of the region. It spans 26 hectares across Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 23 of which are planted with red varieties, the remainder white. Their main holdings are on the south-westerly slopes of the Bois Sénéchaux, just to the east of the town of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Here, some of their Grenache vines are as old as 90 years old. Production remains very traditional, and they retain a simple two-wine offering. Largely, grapes are de-stalked and new oak is avoided in favour of concrete, foudres and second-use Bordeaux (Lynch Bages) barrels.

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Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The most celebrated village of the Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the birthplace of the now indispensable French Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée system – imperfect though it may be. Compared to the Northern Rhône, the vineyards here are relatively flat and often feature the iconic galet pebbles – the precise benefits of which are a source of much debate. Minimum alcohol levels required by the AOC are the highest in France, but at 12.5% it is well below the natural generosity of Grenache, which only achieves its full aromatic potential when it is fully ripe and laden with the resultant high sugars. Syrah and Mourvèdre contribute the other defining elements in the blend, adding pepper, savoury spice and structure to the decadent Grenache. There are a further 10 permitted red grape varieties which can be used to adjust the “seasoning”. Of the five white varieties permitted, it is Grenache Noir’s sibling – predictably perhaps – Grenache Blanc, which dominates, though Roussanne shows a great deal of promise when handled well, notably at Château de Beaucastel.

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Roussanne

Roussanne

Roussanne is one of the most important white grape varieties in the Rhône Valley. It is a particularly pernickety grape to cultivate being a notoriously low yielder as well as being highly susceptible to rot. It is difficult to ripen, and seemingly prone to oxidation at every opportunity. Roussanne's name comes from its russet-coloured skin and it produces richly aromatic wines, often with fruit characteristics of lime and blossom.

In the northern Rhône it is typically blended with Marsanne to produce the white wines of Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, St-Joseph, and St-Péray. Generally Marsanne is the dominant partner and it lends colour, body and weight to the blend, as well as richly scented fruit, while Roussanne contributes bouquet, delicacy and finesse.

It is grown less extensively in the southern Rhône although it is one of the permitted varieties in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. There are plantings of Roussanne in the Languedoc and Rousillon and in the last decade the grape have been cultivated with particular success in California, where it is produced both as a single varietal and as a component of Rhône-style blends.

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