Chateau de Vaudieu Clos du Belvedere Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2018
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Spectator -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
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On a plateau affording a splendid view of the village and medieval castle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Clos du Belvédère – a parcel of 40 year old Grenache Blanc on a gravelly red clay terroir underpinned with calcareous limestone soils – gets its name for both the view and the rather ticky-tacky wall of cinder blocks Laurent’s grandfather erected to to protect this exposed site from the mistral in winter. A deeply mineral and vertical wine, Clos du Belvédère is unique in its reliance entirely on Grenache Blanc, a workhorse variety that is widely planted in the south but rarely reaches this level of refinement. Fermented in tanks and aged in 228L French oak barrels, Clos Belvedere proves that Grenache Blanc, when planted in the right spot can make profound wines.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Rich, yet very bright and transparent, with waves of star fruit, white peach, green almond and yellow apple cruising through, showing verbena and honeysuckle details on the enticing finish.
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Jeb Dunnuck
More white flowers, brioche, honeysuckle, and lemon curd notes emerge from the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Clos Du Belvedere Blanc. It’s a rock star on the palate, with plenty of richness and fruit, yet it still comes across as crisp, clean, and pure. Made from 100% Grenache Blanc brought up in older barrels, it’s one of the true gems when it comes to whites in 2018.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Made entirely from Grenache Blanc (fermented and aged in equal portions of stainless steel, new oak and older oak), the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Clos du Belvedere offers up scents of toasted grain, crushed stone, tangerine and lime. It's medium to full-bodied, silky in texture and crisply focused, with a zesty, citrus-laden finish. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.
Other Vintages
2021- Decanter
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Jeb
Dunnuck - Decanter
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Robert
Parker - Vinous
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Wine
Spectator -
Robert
Parker
Located about a five minute drive outside the village of Chateauneuf-du-Pape along the road which leads to Courthezon you will find Chateau de Vaudieu. It is one of three 18th century Chateaux located in the appellation, tucked into a small valley surrounded by hills and plateau. It is at the intersection of several major terroirs: sandy soils to the north, along a border it shares with Chateau Rayas (one of the best wines in Chateauneuf-du-Pape but not actually a Chateau), pale limestone and clays centered around a forested hillock, and two large plateaux of the somewhat overexposed galets. In total there are 70 hectares within one contiguous estate – something very rare in the appellation.
Full-bodied and flavorful, white Rhône blends originate from France’s Rhône Valley. Today these blends are also becoming popular in other regions. Typically some combination of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier form the basis of a white Rhône blend with varying degrees of flexibility depending on the exact appellation. Somm Secret—In the Northern Rhône, blends of Marsanne and Roussanne are common but the south retains more variety. Marsanne, Roussanne as well as Bourboulenc, Clairette, Picpoul and Ugni Blanc are typical.
Famous for its full-bodied, seductive and spicy reds with flavor and aroma characteristics reminiscent of black cherry, baked raspberry, garrigue, olive tapenade, lavender and baking spice, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the leading sub-appellation of the southern Rhône River Valley. Large pebbles resembling river rocks, called "galets" in French, dominate most of the terrain. The stones hold heat and reflect it back up to the low-lying gobelet-trained vines. Though the galets are typical, they are not prominent in every vineyard. Chateau Rayas is the most obvious deviation with very sandy soil.
According to law, eighteen grape varieties are allowed in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and most wines are blends of some mix of these. For reds, Grenache is the star player with Mourvedre and Syrah coming typically second. Others used include Cinsault, Counoise and occasionally Muscardin, Vaccarèse, Picquepoul Noir and Terret Noir.
Only about 6-7% of wine from Châteauneuf-du-Pape is white wine. Blends and single-varietal bottlings are typically based on the soft and floral Grenache Blanc but Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne are grown with some significance.
The wine of Chateauneuf-du-Pape takes its name from the relocation of the papal court to Avignon. The lore says that after moving in 1309, Pope Clément V (after whom Chateau Pape-Clément in Pessac-Léognan is named) ordered that vines were planted. But it was actually his successor, John XXII, who established the vineyards. The name however, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, translated as "the pope's new castle," didn’t really stick until the 19th century.