2024 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.
Grenache Blanc is essentially nothing more than the white version of the Blue Grenache (Noir). Clairette is one of France's oldest grape varieties, with a history dating back to 1500. Today, Clairette reigns supreme in Die, a village on the Drôme River, known for its sparkling wines Crémant de Die and Clairette de Die. Roussanne is almost always mentioned in the same breath as Marsanne. Marsanne produces abundant juice and is easier to grow, while Roussanne presents the winemaker with a significant challenge but, if handled properly, also yields superb results. The most famous 100% Roussanne wine is the white Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes from Château de Beaucastel .

After manual harvesting, the grapes are selected and pneumatically pressed, after which the juice rests for 12 hours to allow coarser components to settle. This is followed by temperature-controlled alcoholic fermentation with wild yeasts (native to the grapes). Malolactic fermentation and maturation on the lees take place. This takes place in premium oak barriques, 50% new and 50% one year old. After 12 months, the wine is blended, clarified, lightly filtered if necessary, and bottled. This entire process largely follows organic and/or biodynamic rules and regulations.

In the glass, Sinards has a clear, light golden color. The nose reveals aromas of citrus, candied pineapple, wildflowers, honey, anise, and toasted sesame seeds. The palate reveals notes of green lemon, mandarin, Turkish delight, brioche, and vanilla, followed by a lively finish with pleasant acidity.

Say Perrin, and you think of the magical Château de Beaucastel and the captivating Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a wine sought after the world over. Beaucastel has existed since the early 17th century, but it wasn't until 1909, when the Perrin family became owners, that the then 100-hectare estate underwent a true transformation. More than a century later, and now in its fifth generation, the Perrin empire has grown to 325 hectares of vineyards, the vast majority of which are privately owned. Following their success in Châteauneuf, the family began acquiring other plots in the southern Rhône. Today, they operate in the Côtes du Rhône Villages, Vinsobres, Cairanne, Rasteau, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, even Beaumes-de-Venise and Tavel, and for the past few months, in the Côtes de Provence with Château Miraval, the joint venture between Perrin and Jolie-Pitt (Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie). Each of these plots is ideally situated, a maximum of 45 minutes from their home base of Orange, allowing for daily inspections. The family's current success is largely due to the late Jacques Perrin, a third-generation winemaker, a true "biodynamicist" before his time. His philosophy? Good wine is made by allowing the grapes to flourish in the best possible natural conditions. And so it was, as all chemical fertilizers and herbicides were banned from the vineyards as early as 1964. In the cellar, too, nothing is left to chance. The Perrins built a state-of-the-art winery on the nearby La Vieille Ferme estate, equipped with all the latest technology. But the family will go down in history as the masters of blending. This is undoubtedly the Perrins' great secret: they are convinced that blending the right grapes in the right quantities produces better wines. Something the family still does every year. Over the course of five generations, the Perrin family has acquired several vineyards with the finest terroirs in the southern Rhône Valley. These vineyards are managed and vinified according to the same principles and conviction as Château de Beaucastel. Within the 'Famille Perrin' range, you can discover the riches 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.