Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Château de Beaucastel Blanc, Perrin - Château de Beaucastel 2008

The 2008 Chateauneuf du Pape blanc did not go through malolactic fermentation (a choice the Perrins make depending on vintage conditions and intrinsic acidity). A blend of 80% Roussanne and the rest Grenache Blanc and other white varietals, this beauty offers up notes of nectarines, orange marmalade, rose petals, and honeysuckle as well as terrific richness, slightly more acidity than usual, and an exuberant, honeyed, full-bodied style. Drink it over the next 5-7 years or longer.

Gorgeous, with a creamy texture that belies the fresh, well-embeddedacidity that allows the mango, papaya, macadamia nut,fresh butter and honeysuckle notes to play out on the long, beguilingfinish. Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Picardan, Bourboulencand Clairette. Drink now through 2014.-