2018 Domaine du Grand Tinel Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Rhone Valley

There are really only a few white wines in the world that we believe every wine lover needs to experience. Most cost a mint. But there is a style of white wine that, when it’s done right, can deliver the same kind of quality and engrossing experience for nowhere near the same price. 

That wine is Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, and the 2018 Domaine du Grand Tinel is one that’s done to perfection. 

Out of more than 800 French white wines at Decanter’s 2021 World Wine Awards, none scored higher than this gorgeous bottle, which took home 97 points and a Platinum Award. Crafted under the watch of the late, great Philippe Cambie, it shows Châteauneuf Blanc’s seemingly infinite aromas of melon, quince, pear, beeswax, and white flowers—and tons more ripe citrus and orchard fruit on the full-bodied palate. From the first sip to the last, it’s a gorgeous example of the region’s signature, decadent, mineral-laden style. 

Founded by François Establet, Domaine du Grand Tinel has existed in some form since the late 18th century. In the 1960s, Pierre Elie Jeune married Christiane Establet, and today their children—Christophe, Béatrice, and Isabelle—continue to make Châteauneuf-du-Pape just as their father did, through backbreaking work in the vineyards and traditional winemaking in the cave, including hand-sorting the fruit. 

This wine comprises 75% Grenache Blanc, 10% Roussanne, 8% Bourboulenc, and 7% Clairette, a mix that forms a gloriously harmonious whole. Drink it with meals that would also call for a rich Sonoma Chardonnay or white Burgundy, like lobster rolls, shrimp scampi, or roast chicken with tarragon. It will also age like a dream, gaining complexity with as much as another ten years in the bottle.

• Fruit Intensity
• Oak Intensity
• Body
• Sweetness
• Acidity

• ABV 13.50%
• 15 mins
• Now – 2032
• 75% Grenache blanc10% Roussanne8% Bourboulenc7% Clairette
• Serving temperature – 55°
• Cork