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 sof