Vincent Avril comments that 2022 is a richer style than normal for his Clos des Papes Blanc. This was a vintage in which he lost 50% of his white grapes following the devastating impact of a tornado on La Crau plateau, where many of his white varieties (Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Clairette, Picardin, Bourboulenc and Picpoul) are planted.
The extreme drought conditions of the vintage have resulted in an extremely concentrated wine with fine, rich lemon verbena nose and a salty top note. The palate is just so impressive with ripe apricot vying with juicy pear and a touch of honey. Behind this huge volume of intense fruit is an extremely poised yet complex core, leading to a layered, mineral and focused finish. The balance and harmony of this wine is astonishing, especially given its riper-than-usual profile. It is undeniably has the magic of Clos des Papes about it – just with a more sweet, honeyed pear finish.
