(Magnum) 2020 Saint Prefert Chateauneuf du Pape White Vielles Clairettes
100% Clairette Rose from 80-100 year-old vines in the Serres lieu-dit. Very low yields of 15hl/ha. Fermented and aged in a new barrel. Bottled without filtration. Ferrando began to make this wine in 2009 after sharing a bottle of 1947 Bonneau at a family meal with the Bonneau and Ferrando families. The bottle of 1947 was the last bottle that Henri Bonneau had that his father had made and it was a bottle of Vieilles Clairettes. The bottle was extraordinary and the next day Bonneau told Ferrando that she had the ability to make a wine of this quality from the rare, old-vine, pink clairette that is co-planted in her vineyards. The first year, Bonneau helped to do the vinification. The wine was very gently pressed and aged for 18 months in one new large barrel. Bonneau recommended to bottle in magnum because there is not enough for everyone, so when it’s opened, it’s for a special occasion. To this day, Ferrando's tradition is to always give the first bottle each vintage to the Bonneau family. Normally, only one 600 liter barrel is made per year.
JD 96-98: "Still not yet bottled, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Spéciale Vieilles Clairettes is another thrilling white from this address. Pear, honeyed melon, pineapple, flowers, and hints of brioche all emerge on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, has remarkable purity of fruit, a rich yet still lively and fresh mouthfeel, and a great finish. Along with Beaucastel's Roussanne Vieilles Vignes, this cuvée is at the top of the appellation and is utterly world class."
