The Perrin family's Roussanne Vieilles Vignes is a rare beast. Made from the oldest vines on the property, the honey coloured, textural and powerful white is invariably one of the Rhône's best.
The source of the fruit is a four hectare plot on the Beaucastel estate to the north of the appellation. The vines are old and yields are naturally low – around 15hl/ha. Roughly 6,000 bottles are produced each year. The 2023 vintage has just been released and we are fortunate to have a small allocation.
Jeb Dunnuck rates the 2023 with 98 points: “It's full-bodied, has a pure, layered mouthfeel, fabulous concentration, and a finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. If you see it, buy it. I don’t see this being the longest-lived vintage of this cuvée, but who cares? It’s sensational stuff.” Matt Walls of decanter.com is at 97, whilst Alastair Cooper MW, writing for jancisrobinson.com, is at 18 points: “Long, incredibly rich and refined. Wonderful”.
A wine for white Rhône purists, it is packed in three bottle cases and will be shipping to the UK in January next year.
There are roughly 600 cases of the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape Roussanne Vieilles Vignes, a 100% Roussanne from very old vines brought up 50% new oak and 50% once-used. It too is flat-out awesome, with honeyed quince, green almond, white flowers, orange liqueur, and a liqueur of rocks-like minerality. It's full-bodied, has a pure, layered mouthfeel, fabulous concentration, and a finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. If you see it, buy it. I don’t see this being the longest-lived vintage of this cuvée, but who cares? It’s sensational stuff.
Slightly reduced and nutty with a note of oak on the nose. A real intensity on the palate with superb definition and richness, this is supremely concentrated – mandarin skin and almond husk throughout with nutty, ripe russet apple and jasmine. Long, incredibly rich and refined. Wonderful. (AC)
Attractive, fresh and open, with honeyed apricot and mango notes. It's full-bodied, but not massive by any means, and the acidity is low, as usual with this cuvée, with a positive, bitter grapefruit note. Lovely generous nature to the body, along with a good feeling of balance. Long and fresh, with gentle inner tension. From a single parcel of Roussanne, planted in 1919 and grown biodynamically. Aged in one-year-old demi-muids and barriques. Maximum of 6,000 bottles per year.
