It's great to taste the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape Pure Roussanne beside the Pure Clairette. You get a real sense of the difference in these two varieties, with the Clairette providing a more focused, mineral-laced style and the Roussanne showing more richness and breadth. Medium gold-hued, with a powerful nose of honeyed orchard fruits, flower oil, orange blossom, and exotic spices, this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a deep, layered mouthfeel, integrated acidity, and a great finish. While Clairette is the shiny new toy for Rhône lovers out there, this shows that readers shouldn't skimp on seeking out the more Roussanne-dominated cuvées.

97 Pts Jeb Dunnuck