The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Tradition blanc is composed of 40% Grenache and the rest equal parts Clairette, Roussanne, and Bourboulenc aged primarily in stainless steel with 10% kept in small barrels. It is a rich, deep, concentrated white with lots of floral (roses) notes, round, generous flavors, crisp acidity, and an attractive underlying minerality. It should drink nicely for 1-2 years. Domaine Raymond Usseglio produced brilliant 2009s as well as very good 2008s. As long-time readers know, American importer Peter Weygandt chooses his own classic/traditional cuvee, named Cuvee Girard, for sale in America. I tend to have a slight preference for Weygandt's cuvee over the traditional offering sold elsewhere as it is bottled without fining or filtering, and I think the actual blend is slightly different. That said, it was almost impossible to see any difference in either the 2008 or 2009 offerings at this stage. Importer: Peter Weygandt, Weygandt-Metzler, Unionville, PA; tel. (610) 486-0800