WINE OF THE WEEK: Hommage du Rhône Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2015, France
£13.99, Waitrose
White Châteauneuf-du-Pape comes into the same category as the white Rioja I recommended a couple of weeks ago: everyone knows the red version, but the white, a relative rarity, is pretty well below the radar. Hommage du Rhône is cheaper than many, even more so at the current offer price, but it's full of charm and very much a winter white (although don’t let that stop you buying some for the summer). It’s full-bodied and rounded with a spicy, leafy freshness on the nose and floral, peach and soft but fresh citrus flavours on the palate. If you want to think of it another way: it’s the antithesis of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. In fact the grape varieties are Grenache Blanc (mainly), Clairette and Roussanne. You can drink it on its own, but it’s a good candidate for poultry, pork, veal or fish or pasta in cream sauces. It reverts to £17.99 on 3 January 2017.
Hommage du Rhône Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2015, Rhône, France
£13.99, down from £17.99 until 3 January 2017, Waitrose and waitrosecellar.com
Really enjoyed this concise introduction to a white Châteauneuf-du-Pape that is less familiar than its red counterpart. The description of its charm, seasonal appeal, and approachable price made me curious to explore the style further. I recently came across a similar wine discussion on Crime Scene Cleanup in Tampa, and it offered another interesting perspective on discovering bottles that deserve more attention.