2021 Famille Perrin Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Sinards Blanc

The Famille Perrin Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Sinards Blanc is a blend of the Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne grapes.
The Grenache Blanc is actually nothing more than the white variant of the blue Grenache (noir). Clairette is one of the oldest grape varieties in France, with a history dating back to the year 1500. Today, Clairette rules the roost in Die, a village on the river Drôme, known for its sparkling wines Crémant de Die and Clairette de Die. The Roussanne is almost always mentioned in the same breath as Marsanne. Marsanne provides a lot of juice and is easier to grow, while Roussanne presents the winemaker with a major challenge but, if treated properly, also produces great results. The most famous wine from 100% roussanne is the white Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes from Château de Beaucastel .

After manual picking, the grapes are selected and pressed pneumatically, after which the juice rests for 12 hours to allow coarser components to settle. This is followed by a temperature-controlled alcoholic fermentation with wild (grape's own) yeasts. Subsequently, malolactic fermentation and ripening take place on the lees. This is done in first-class oak barriques that are 50% new and 50% one year old. After 12 months, the wine is assembled, clarified, possibly lightly filtered and bottled. This entire process largely follows biological and/or biodynamic rules and regulations.

In the glass, the Sinards has a bright light golden yellow color. The nose has aromas of citrus fruit, candied pineapple, wild flowers, honey, anise and roasted sesame seeds. The taste palette shows notes of green lemon, mandarin, Turkish delight, brioche and vanilla, which are followed by a lively aftertaste with beautiful acidity.

Say Perrin and you think of the magical castle Château de Beaucastel and the evocative Châteauneuf-du-Pape that is highly sought after worldwide. Beaucastel has existed since the beginning of the 17th century, but it was not until 1909, when the Perrin family became owners, that the then one hundred hectare domain underwent a real metamorphosis. More than a hundred years later, and now in its fifth generation, Perrin's empire has grown to 325 hectares of vineyards, the vast majority of which are in-house. After the success at Châteauneuf, the family began purchasing other plots of land in the southern Rhône. Today they are active in the Côtes du Rhône Villages, Vinsobres, Cairanne, Rasteau, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, even Beaumes-de-Venise and Tavel and for several months now in Côtes de Provence with Château Miraval, the jont venture between Perrin and Jolie -Pitt (Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie). All of them are excellently situated plots that are a maximum of 45 minutes from the home port of Orange and can therefore be inspected daily. The success that the family enjoys today is largely due to the late Jacques Perrin, from the third generation, a real 'biodynamist' avant la lettre. His philosophy? Good wine is made by letting the grape do its thing in the best possible natural conditions. And so it happened, because in 1964 all chemical fertilizers and weed killers were banned from the vineyard. Even in the cellar, nothing is left to chance. The Perrins built an ultra-modern vinification cellar equipped with all technical gadgets on the nearby La Vieille Ferme estate. But the family will mainly go down in history as the masters of blenders. It is undeniably the great secret of the Perrins, who are convinced that blending the right grapes in the right quantities produces better wines. Something that is still done annually by the family. Over the course of five generations, the Perrin family has acquired several vineyards with the best terroirs in the southern Rhône Valley. These vineyards are managed and vinified according to the same principles and beliefs as Château de Beaucastel. Within the 'Famille Perrin' range you will discover the wealth of the southern Rhône Valley through various renowned appellations such as Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Vinsobres, Cairanne and Rasteau. Here too, the authenticity and essence of the terroir are central to all wines.