CDP Cuvee A Tempo Blanc, Domaine de Pégau 2016

Deeper and richer than the classic cuvée, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée A Tempo Blanc is a tiny production, luxury cuvée based on Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne. Exotic notes of candied lemons, lime, honeysuckle, chamomile, and exotic flowers give way to a medium-bodied, vibrant, racy white that has an incredible sense of tension and vibrancy. It picks up more and more minerality with time in the glass, is beautifully balanced, and is a singular wine from the estate.

One of the best white Châteauneufs I've tasted—outdoing its fine performance last year prior to bottling—the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Cuvee A Tempo is equal parts Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne, vinified and aged in a combination of barrique, concrete egg and stainless steel. Full-bodied, rich and lush, it shows honeyed bergamot and pineapple fruit balanced by clean citrus and anise notes. Bravo! Drink Date 2018 - 2030

Tasted out of tank, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Cuvée A Tempo is terrific, ripe, exotic white that offer loads of citrus, tangerine, crushed rock and flower oil like aromatics. Still young and a touch hard to read, it has beautiful concentration, integrated acidity and a viscosity that's reminiscent of a concentrated Riesling from Alsace. It's a beautiful bottle of wine.

The 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Cuvee A Tempo was scheduled to be bottled later in September. This blend of one-third each Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne fermented and matured in a combination of used barrique, concrete egg and stainless steel. Scents of honey and pineapple set the stage, reined in by zesty, lime-like acids and an austere, almost chalky-textured finish. Given a couple of years in the bottle, this could be really interesting.