Half Clairette, with the balance almost entirely Grenache Blanc (there are small proportions of Bourboulenc and Picpoul Blanc as well), Mathieu's tank-fermented and matured 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc is pale in color and tinged with green. Lime zest and pear notes mark the nose, while the wine is just medium-bodied on the palate. It comes across as quite lean and underdeveloped, but it fleshes out and plumps up nicely with air, while staying crisp and focused, adding hints of pineapple and fresh greens on the finish.

This consistent estate has produced two whites in 2013, with the 2013 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc being a leafy, slightly green and straightforward effort that’s best consumed over the near term.

Crisp, fresh, and lively, offering hints of orange skin, lemon butter, and white citrus