My favorite of the whites, the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape La Font d’Hippolyte Blanc dishes out stunning notes of peaches, mulled spice and toasted almonds on the nose. Made from 85% Roussanne and 15% Clairette and aged all in concrete, this medium to full-bodied white has solid mid-palate depth, great acidity and fantastic focus and length on the finish. It’s a serious, classic Roussanne blend that will have over a decade of longevity (my standard caveat about aging these applies here and the safe bet is to drink in the first 2-3 years). Drink now-2022.
This small estate is run by Jean-Pierre Serguier, and covers 10 acres in Chateauneuf du Pape, mostly in the northwestern section of the appellation. He produces two red cuvees in top vintages, his classic blend (reviewed here) and a Grenache-dominated Grandes Grenachieres d’Hyppolyte. All three of the Cotes du Rhones reviewed here were well made and show good all-around character. In addition, his whites are superb.