2016 Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc is sold out.

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Critical Favorite CdP Blanc

Wine Bottle
  • 96 pts Wine Spectator
    96 pts WS
  • 96 pts Decanter
    96 pts Decanter
  • 95 pts Jeb Dunnuck
    95 pts Jeb Dunnuck
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2016 Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc 750 ml

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  • Curated by unrivaled experts
  • Choose your delivery date
  • Temperature controlled shipping options
  • Get credited back if a wine fails to impress

96/96/95 For One of the Finest Châteauneuf-du-Pape Whites

96/96/95 For One of the Finest Châteauneuf-du-Pape Whites

The 2016 vintage in the Rhône was “truly great in the South,” Decanter said, rivaling the great 2015. Now imagine the peaks this historic vintage reached at one of Châteauneuf-du-Papes legendary founding estates. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate leads the critical acclaim for Clos des Papes, “one of the finest producers of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.” The 2016 Clos des Papes Blanc earned matching 96-point raves from Wine Spectator and Decanter, with Jeb Dunnuck close behind at 95. At $75 per bottle, we wish we had more — but just 120 bottles are up for grabs direct from Châteauneuf in perfect condition and provenance. Do not sleep on this one.

Clos des Papes dates back to 1896, when Paul Avril first started producing and bottling his wines and selling them out of his cellar door. Avril was one of the key people to establish Châteauneuf-du-Pape as an official appellation wine in the 1930s. Today the estate is run by the great-grandson of that Paul Avril, Paul-Vincent Avril, who goes by Vincent. We like to call Vincent Avril a “modern traditionalist,” with one foot in the classic, traditional philosophy of the region — no new oak, choosing to produce only ONE wine for the estate — and one foot in the modern era, choosing low yields and no filtration. Vincent is building on the greatness of what his great-grandfather accomplished. Robert Parker considers Clos des Papes “one of the reference point estates for traditional, age-worthy Châteauneuf du Pape.”

Since its debut in 1955, Clos des Papes Blanc has been sourced from the coolest sites on the 80-acre estate. The 2016 blend is perfectly balanced: 20% Roussanne, 20% Grenache Blanc, 20% Clairette, 20% Bourboulenc, and 20% Picpoul. The wine is vinified and aged in stainless steel tanks for 6 months. The result is an atypical version of Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc showcasing its minerality and raciness rather than weight and brute force. You’d be hard-pressed to find another 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc in a similar style; you won’t find one that also earns across-the-board praise from all of the top publications.