Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Château de Beaucastel Blanc, Perrin - Château de Beaucastel 2006

The 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape blanc (80% Roussanne and the rest Marsanne, Picpoul, and Bourboulenc) possesses classic notes of orange marmalade, honeysuckle, and rose petals, a full-bodied, unctuous texture, gorgeous purity and richness, and a stunningly long finish. It can compete with the finest full-throttle, dry whites of France as well as the world. It is difficult to find a better white Chateauneuf du Pape than Beaucastel. Much like their reds, their whites are made in a style that is atypical for the appellation. It is put through full malolactic, and one-third is barrel fermented, then blended with the two-thirds that is aged in tank. Extraordinarily rich and honeyed, it is ideal for drinking with intensely flavored culinary dishes

Extremely big, round, full and bumptious. Stunningly caressing texture. Lovely honeyed completeness on the nose with a beginning, middle and end to what it delivers on the palate. Lovely, and very persistent. This will presumably have a later, mineral-dominated life from 2014 or 2015 onwards.

The 2006 Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape white (80% Roussanne and the rest Marsanne, Picpoul, and Bourboulenc) is superb. A beauty of richness, elegance, and complexity, it exhibits notes of tropical fruits, marmalade, honeysuckle, rose water, and spice. The wine is rich, full-bodied, with tremendous texture, length, and purity. It should drink well for at least 5-6 years before it goes into that weird state of development.