A bigger, richer wine that has more noticeable oak, the tiny production 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc Cuvee Barberini (80% Roussanne and 20% Clairette, aged in new oak) is tight and backwards at present, and needs a year in bottle to really show its potential. Nevertheless, it offers serious notes of white peach, sautéed apples, brioche and spice, with medium to full-bodied richness and juicy acidity. It’s a terrific white that will age gracefully.
Limpid yellow. Potent, mineral-laced aromas of tangerine, pear nectar, peach and white flowers, plus a subtle honey flourish. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering intense orchard fruit and citrus marmalade flavors complemented by a refreshing mineral note. Finishes with very good clarity and powerful thrust, leaving pear nectar and chamomile notes behind.
Matt Walls, Decanter
Quite introspective for now, mostly just the nutty oak showing itself on the nose. Distinctly savoury, dry and medium-bodied palate. There's plenty of extract, giving it a saline impression on the very long finish, where flavours of cinnamon spice, apple and quince intermingle. A good sense of finesse, this could be exceptional in time. Grown on sandy soils and aged in new barriques. 96 Points
