2012 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Anonyme Blanc
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Tasting notes
The first vintage of the cuvee and also brilliant, with a similar level of richness, yet additional focus and purity, the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Anonyme (50% Roussanne, 40% Grenache Blanc and 10% Clairette all aged two-thirds in barrel and one-third in stainless steel) is pure class. Rich white peach, toasted almonds, white currants and citrus all emerge from the glass, and it shows a similar saline-like minerality on the palate. A big wine, it stays beautiful fresh and lively. Like the straight Chateauneuf, it should drink nicely for at least 2-3 years. Drink now-2017. Consulting at a number of top estates (Marcoux, Grand Veneur, Raymond Usseglio, etc.), Xavier Vignon (along with Philippe Cambie) is one of the leading oenologists in the Southern Rhone – and you only need to taste his own negociant wines to understand why. I was blown away by these current and new releases. Across the board they showed beautifully made profiles, with not only loads of fruit and texture, but superb balance and classic Southern Rhone characters. In fact, each of the wines showed what I think of as textbook characteristics of the terroirs from which they come. In addition, the prices remain remarkably low, and these wines are a treasure trove for the savvy buyer. Importer: Sussex Wine Merchants, Moorestown, NJ; tel. (856) 608-9644; Ingenium Wines, Huntsville, AL; tel. (256) 684-2543
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The first vintage of the cuvee and also brilliant, with a similar level of richness, yet additional focus and purity, the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Anonyme (50% Roussanne, 40% Grenache Blanc and 10% Clairette all aged two-thirds in barrel and one-third in stainless steel) is pure class. Rich white peach, toasted almonds, white currants and citrus all emerge from the glass, and it shows a similar saline-like minerality on the palate. A big wine, it stays beautiful fresh and lively. Like the straight Chateauneuf, it should drink nicely for at least 2-3 years. Drink now-2017. ||Consulting at a number of top estates (Marcoux, Grand Veneur, Raymond Usseglio, etc.), Xavier Vignon (along with Philippe Cambie) is one of the leading oenologists in the Southern Rhone – and you only need to taste his own negociant wines to understand why. I was blown away by these current and new releases. Across the board they showed beautifully made profiles, with not only loads of fruit and texture, but superb balance and classic Southern Rhone characters. In fact, each of the wines showed what I think of as textbook characteristics of the terroirs from which they come. In addition, the prices remain remarkably low, and these wines are a treasure trove for the savvy buyer. Wine Advocate.October, 2013
About the producer
Xavier Vignon has become one of the Rhône Valley’s most accomplished winemakers. Despite not owning his own vineyards, Vignon’s experience consulting for over 500 different vignerons in the region has given him incredible access to some of the Rhône’s finest terroirs.
Product details
Clairette, Grenache Blanc / Garnacha Blanca, Roussanne, Picpoul
White
Dry