2023 Château de la Gardine Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc
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Body: full-bodied. Like most white wines from ; 14.5% alcohol.
Acidity: fairly low. The warm climate of .
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Log inThe Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc Cuvée Tradition AOC is a blend of Roussanne, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, and Bourboulenc. The grapes come from vineyards on the western side of the château. The soil here is rich in limestone, which gives the wine a beautiful minerality. To preserve maximum freshness, the harvest takes place early, usually before September 15th—except for the late-ripening Clairette. The grapes are hand-picked and carefully sorted. They are then pressed and fermented 70% in stainless steel at a controlled temperature of 15 to 18 degrees Celsius. The remaining grapes are fermented in oak barrels. After fermentation, the wine is aged in oak barrels for six months. Malolactic fermentation does not take place.
For years, the Brunel family has been crafting terroir-specific, high-quality wines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. They produce two styles of white Châteauneuf: the Cuvée des Générations Marie-Léoncie, a full-bodied, ripe wine made from old Roussanne vines, and the Cuvée Tradition, a fresh, youthful expression of Châteauneuf du Pape. A lively wine with a southern French spiciness, a fine minerality, and crisp acidity.
In the glass, the wine has a light lemon yellow color. The nose reveals delicate, vibrant aromas of citrus, fennel, thyme, and licorice. On the palate, the Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc Cuvée Tradition is simultaneously fruity and spicy, an aromatic wine with crisp acidity. All in all, a very handsome wine and a perfect pairing with monkfish in saffron sauce. Also delicious with goat cheese or Bresse chicken in cream sauce.
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The Brunel family's winemaking tradition dates back to the 17th century. Gaston Brunel, a famous merchant, bought Château de la Gardine in Châteauneuf du Pape in 1945. The estate is now run by his two sons, Patrick and Maxime, with the help of their wives Eve and Maryse and their children Marie-Odile and Philippe. The estate extends over 52 hectares of vineyards (48 hectares red and 4 hectares white) and 20 hectares of woodland, all surrounding the property. The domain is known for the quality of their wines and the unique Gardine bottle. Today, about 70% of production is exported to about 30 countries.
In 1998, the Brunel family saw the potential of the terroir in Lirac. The family therefore also bought Château Saint Roch with 40 hectares of land in Roquemaure where a selection of red, white and rosé wines is produced. It is Eve Brunel, who is also the oenologist for both La Gardine and St Roch, who runs the estate. Robert Parker once said “Don't underestimate the potential of the Brunel family's Château Saint Roch in Lirac. They make wines of an excellent price-quality ratio."
Today, the Brunel family returns to the trading tradition with "Brunel de le Gardine". They offer a wide range of wines from the Northern and Southern Rhone. Patrick Brunel chooses the best wines from each appellation using his trusting relationships with top growers in the region. The family uses all their knowledge and experience to blend and mature the wines, respecting the tradition and the characteristics of each terroir. The quality packaging, with the special Gardine bottle, is the signature of this fine selection of wines.
The Gardine bottle, original and elegant, was created by spontaneous coincidence. When Gaston Brunel first wanted to expand his cellar and dig in the ground, he found a very old mouth-blown bottle. He liked the shape, so he decided to bottle all his wine in a similar bottle. At first he couldn't find a manufacturer in France who could reproduce this bottle, it was that special. He had them made in Italy. Since 1964, all Gardine wines have been bottled in the unique bottle.
Frisse citrus- en groene appelaroma's met venkel- en tijmachtige kruidigheid, een lichte zoethouttoon, fijne kalkmineraliteit en knisperende zuren, aangevuld met subtiele eikeninvloeden zorgen voor een levendig, aromatisch smaakprofiel. Daardoor vormt deze Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc een perfecte begeleider bij gevogelte, witte vis, schelp- en schaaldieren en kazen: de zuren snijden door romige sauzen, de kruiden harmonieëren met kruidenrijke bereidingen en de mineraliteit accentueert de zilte tonen van zeevruchten, bijvoorbeeld bij zeeduivel in saffraansaus, gegrilde coquilles of gebakken Bresse-kip in roomsaus en bij frisse geitenkaas of lichtgerijpte kazen.
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