E. Guigal, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc (Rhône Valley, France) 2017

 Guigal, based in the northern Rhône village of Ampuis, has made Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the southern Rhône’s most famous wine, since the 1940s.  But this 2017 is their first white Châteauneuf du Pape.  White Châteauneuf du Pape is unusual, since about 95 percent of the appellation’s production is red.  Guigal’s acquisition of Château Nalys in Châteauneuf du Pape in 2017 gave them access to high quality white grapes from nine other growers.  (Guigal also now makes two white estate Châteauneuf du Pape from their own grapes bottled under the Château Nalys label.)  This white Châteauneuf du Pape is in the Guigal style–opulent, but not heavy or overdone.  It conveys ripe stone fruit flavors offset with balancing firmness.   A full-bodied white, it would go well with sautéed chicken in a creamy mustard sauce.