09/10/05 – La Chasse du Pape (France) Chardonnay/Viognier 2004

La Chasse du Pape (France) Chardonnay/Viognier 2004
Readers may be familiar with the very good value red wines from Chasse du Pape, both the Vin de Pays d’Oc and their Cotes du Rhone, which has been a Wine of the Week on these pages in the past. This 50/50 blend of Chardonnay and Viognier is a very fine effort indeed. It has a light gold colour, and an aromatic nose of pear skins and apple, with a little glimpse of peach or apricot, and a suggestion of racy minerality. On the palate it feels bigger and more powerful than its 12.5% alcohol, with quite rich, rounded fruit that is broad and leesy. A core of lemony, quite steely acidity runs through this, leaving the finish nicely balanced between juicy fruit, textural richness, and a tang of crisp citrus. £4.99 Asda, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose.