Description
Roger Sabon Renaissance Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2012 is an equal blend of foudre aged Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Roussanne, and Bourboulenc. Sabon Renaissance is attractive right away. Exotic florals, hazelnut, white and yellow fruits and mineral. The palate Sabon Renaissance is a gorgeously supple, silky, elegant experience. It is long finishing and savoury.
Sabon Renaissance is on a wonderful plateau, it will not improve further, but it is in the perfect place for enjoyment.
Roger Sabon Renaissance Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2012, and all wines are eligible for at least 5% off any six bottles. And 10% off any 12 bottles. Some wines will be at a more significant discount and not subject to further discounts.
Roger Sabon is an excellent producer of Châteauneuf du Pape. The Roger Sabon Cuvee system bases selection on vine age. Therefore the expression of fruit and terroir are the focus, with oak used judiciously. Each Roger Sabon Cuvee is velvety with high concentration, flesh and finesse, utilising large, old oak casks for elevage. Delicious wines right through the range. Roger Sabon is one of my favourite producers in the whole wine world.
Roger Sabon Renaissance Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2012 Wine Review
Wine Spectator
93 points
October 2013
“Features creamy and stony notes, with melon, peach and chamomile at the core, lined with blanched almond and salted butter flavors that add good length to the finish. Very fresh, with gorgeous purity. Drink now through 2015.”
Chateauneuf du Pape
The house of the New Pope. Where Grenache transcends its tendency towards mediocrity and becomes a noble variety. Chateauneuf reds can be a blend of up to 15 varieties, with the main three being Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre. Some estates use all 15, and some use as little as one. With a range of terroirs and blending options, it is hard to pin down CNDP to one style, so find a producer you like and find out their conspirators. The ability to age here is the same as great Burgundy or Bordeaux. The whites can be as outstanding as the reds but definitely on the expensive side.
Rhone Valley
One of the great wine regions in the world. Situated along the Rhone river in South-East France, there is a distinct divide between the Syrah dominant North where the Mistral wind cools and regulates the temperature and the hot lands in the South where Grenache is at its peak. The region produces everything from easy-going quaffers to wines that demand long-term cellaring. Whites can be outstanding such as Viognier made in Condrieu, and Rosé makes a fair impression too.
Clairette
Clairette means “light one”. Clairette was once widespread in France, but higher-quality varieties replaced it. You can still find Clairette in the Rhone Valley and Languedoc.
Its low acid, high alcohol and tendency to oxidise made it popular for Sparkling wine, Vermouth and Madeira styles.
As a table wine, Clairette tends to make fresh, light wines tasting of apples, citrus and stonefruit.
Grenache Blanc
Closely related to the more famous red Grenache, Grenache blanc shares similar characteristics. It is prone to high alcohol, low acids, and high cropping. Also, like red Grenache, Grenache Blanc does better in most cases when it is blended with other grapes. Commonly in the Rhone, it is Roussanne, but there are half a dozen other native Rhone whites that can be used. Look for flavours in the citrus and herbaceous spheres.
Roussanne
One of the grapes, along with Marsanne, that adds texture, structure and sobriety to the Rhone Valley’s ostentatious Viognier. Without their flamboyant partner, the wines tend to be rich, understated but with good balance. In the right hands, there is amazing perfume and fruit to coax out.
French Wine
The land that so many New World (not European) wine producers look to emulate. To generalise about French wine, I would say it is savoury, lighter-bodied wines. They are the definition of elegant, complex. There are many styles, though. And there is a French wine for every palate. They lead the world in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Burgundy. Sparkling Wine in Champagne. Cabernet and Merlot in Bordeaux. Syrah(Shiraz) and Grenache in the Rhone Valley. Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris in Alsace. Sauvignon Blanc, and Chenin Blanc in the Loire Valley. Gamay in Beaujolais.
Wine
Wine is the result you get from fermented grape juice. There is proof of wine production dating back 8000 years ago. Fashions, innovations and many other factors have influenced the way wine has evolved over the years.
The wine grape is special. It contains everything you need to make grape wine except for the yeast, which lives on the outside of the skins.
Human inputs can influence the final product, including the viticulture (growing) choices. And the winemaker can shape the wine to a point too.
The best wines of the world often refer to terroir. Terroir is a French term that refers to all the climatic, geological and topographical influences on a specific piece of land. And it is true that neighbouring vineyards, grown identically, can taste noticeably different.
White Wine
It is interesting to know that you can make white wine from almost any grape. The colour comes from the skins, and if there is no contact, there is no colour. White wines tend to be delicate, perfumed, higher in acid and lower in alcohol. It seems for this and many other reasons, it is hard to make an incredibly impressive white wine. But those that have mastered the art are indeed some of the best winemakers in the world.
It is a falsehood to think that white wine does not age as well as red wine. But it is correct that white wine, as a rule, doesn’t age for as long.
The Wine Depository
I, Phil, have been running The Wine Depository since 2011. The Wine Depository exists to make sure you are drinking the good wines. You can browse and pick what is interesting to you. Or you can make contact with me. I’ll make sure you get what you want, to your palate, to your budget and to your door.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.