South Rhone Valley

2011 AOC Cotes du Rhone villages Cairanne Blanc - Domaine Richaud:

29% Clairette, 26% Bourboulenc, 18% Roussanne, 12% Marsanne, 7% Viogner, 8% Grenache Blanc

Marcel Richaud has been a pioneer in terms of using a natural way of winemaking in the Cairanne terroir. Member of the "Vins Naturel" in france a terrific association focus in sustainable artisan winemakers:
http://www.vinsnaturels.fr
This 2011 blanc is a blend of most of the native white grapes varieties in all rhone valley, mostly the time they are the blend of a Chateauneuf du Pape blanc.

Cairanne is in the hearth of south Rhone valley between Rasteau and Gigondas just north of Avignone:
we had this wine  a week ago, we decanted it to get all the expression of the blend, the fruit come as early we open, grapefruit, pears aromas. The beginning  was a bit reductive but slowly open up with a touch of anise, pepper-berry and some sandal.
deeply length through my palate with a touch of soft tannin assume in the technique of winemaking lees are involved in the aging time.
I really loved and so far I'm in love with the wines coming from the Rhone Valley. 



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