Checking in as a blend of 80% Roussanne, 15% Grenache Blanc, the rest an assortment of varieties - all vinified separately in stainless steel, with the exception of the Roussanne which sees barrel aging - the 2011 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc is a smoking blanc that is up there with the best of the vintage. Deep and tight, with firm notes of white peach, apricot, crushed stone minerality, and hints of crème, this full-bodied beauty hits the palate with a pure, focused texture, clean, crisp acidity, and building richness that comes out with air. Very long on the finish, there is actually some tannic structure here. As with most top Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blancs, this can be enjoyed over the coming 3-4 years, or cellared for a decade.

One of my favorite vintages for this cuvee, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc never fails to impress. Revealing a medium-gold color, it has gorgeous richness and depth in its honeyed stone fruits, peach, buttered-citrus and salty minerality. Voluptuous, full-bodied and decadently textured, it has both freshness and focus, both of which come through on the finish. I'd drink bottles over the coming 2-3 years, or hold off for a decade. - Jeb Dunnuck

Extravagant is the word for this wine, from its sweet floral scents to its saturated texture. A blend of 80 percent roussanne and 20 percent grenache blanc fermented in tank, it’s like an eternal well of flavor, juicy, floral, herbal and spicy. The acidity rides through the flavors like an electric current, invisibly energizing the wine, and promising to hold it strong while it mellows in the cellar. It’s delicious now for a celebratory meal, but should be even more compelling in another six to twelve years, when the minerality has had more time to assert its presence.

This wine takes white Châteauneuf-du-Pape to rare heights. Mouthwatering aromas of toasted nuts and pineapple set the stage for a full-bodied, rich, succulent wine experience whose finish lingers. Yet despite the wine's undeniable heft, it never seems overly weighty. Drink this blend of 80% Roussanne and 20% Grenache Blanc over the next couple of years.

A lush, tropical style, with a lovely core of papaya and creamed peach backed by acacia honey and lightly toasted macadamia nut notes. The long, creamy finish has a beautiful mouthfeel, while the papaya note echoes on. Drink now through 2014. 500 cases imported. –JM