The barrel-fermented 1996 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Beauvenir is a blend of 38% Roussanne and 47% Clairette, with the balance an assortment of other white wine varietals. The wine exhibits an excellent texture, beautiful honeyed pineapple/pear-like fruit, a chewy, full-bodied palate, and outstanding length. It appears to be the finest Beauvenir La Nerthe has made. Dugas told me the yields were extremely low, averaging 15-20 hectoliters per hectare.I suspect La Nerthe will make even greater wine, but there is no reason to complain about the quality emanating from this, Chateauneuf du Pape's most historical estate, and its only grand chateau. The 1996 vintage was considered to be more successful than expected. I tasted six separate cuvees since the blend for the Cuvee Classique had not been made. Readers should note there will be no Cuvee des Cadettes in 1996. All the grapes were harvested between September 13 and 27, and administrator Alain Dugas seemed pleased that the wines were richer than he had expected given the deplorable weather conditions in late August and early September. The 1996 appears to be less successful than either 1995 or 1994, but all the cuvees, with the exception of two, seemed to have very good power and intensity. Two 1996 white wine cuvees had been made, and both are excellent (1996 being a more attractive vintage overall for white than red grapes).Importer: Veuve Clicquot Imports, New York, NY; tel. (212) 888-7575
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