2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Cuvee Tradition

The same style as the 2019, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Blanc has a lively citrus, melon, and floral bouquet as well as a medium-bodied, mildly concentrated, charming style on the palate. The 2019 will be a longer-lived wine, while this will be best enjoyed in its youth. Built like an NFL linebacker, Nicolas Boiron is nevertheless a gentle giant and produced a bevy of brilliant wines in 2018 and 2019. While many estates stick to a single style (whether that be modern, traditional, etc.), the wines from Bosquet des Papes span the full spectrum. His classic cuvee and the old vine Chante Le Merle releases are classic, old-school Châteauneuf du Pape, his A La Gloire de Mon Grand-Père is more quasi-modern in style with partial destemming and aging in demi-muids, and his La Folie cuvee is full-on modern with destemming and plenty of new oak. Regardless of the style, the quality is brilliant, and these are beautiful wines. In addition, while I used to find a certain rusticity in the tannins in these wines, today, these wines show considerably more elegance and purity.

A blend of 45% Clairette, 35% Grenache Blanc and 20% Bourboulenc, the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc is mostly tank-fermented and aged (20% goes into barrels). It's full-bodied and plush, with fruit that consists of tangerines, limes and white peaches. Big up front, it gradually narrows to a tight, crisp finish.