Famille Perrin, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc (Rhône Valley, France) 2019

 To be perfectly candid, I don’t often taste white Châteauneuf-du-Pape that really seems to be worth asking price, but this is a very impressive case in counterpoint.  My surprise was lessened by knowing that this release comes from the team behind Châteauneuf’s uber-famous Château Beaucastel, but still, this is a superb specimen of the breed.  Nutty, toasty scents intermingle with rich fruit notes and an aroma reminiscent of wild honey, and they are every bit as alluring as these descriptors suggest.  Medium-bodied on the palate, with a broad, soft texture that is energized by fresh acidity and provided framing from classy oak (some of which seems to be new, but with no distracting charry notes), this is straightforwardly delicious but also impressively nuanced.  The various flavors (stone fruit, citrus and tropical fruit) tail off symmetrically in the finish, supported by the oak and lifted by the acidity.  This will be a wonderful partner for many dishes suited to white wine, but sauteed chicken with mushroom cream sauce would be a good place to start with your experimentation.  Terrific juice.