The bevy of white wine offerings from Chateau Beaucastel is impressive. The limited production (approximately 10,000 bottles) of Chateauneuf du Pape Roussanne Vieilles Vignes in both 1996 and 1995 insures that few readers will ever get a chance to taste what is undeniably the greatest dry white wine made in the southern Rhone Valley. These are wines of extraordinary richness, with profound quantities of rose petals, honey, and smoke, as well as luxuriant richness, unctuous textures, and super density. The 1996 possesses more acidity, and may be marginally less concentrated and higher in acidity than the blockbuster 1995, but both of these full-bodied, multidimensional wines are glorious. The jury is still out as to how well they age, but the debut vintage of this wine, 1986, is still relatively young, and even lighter years are proving to be stunning, even better than many people (including me) initially thought. This cuvee is the Montrachet of the southern Rhone, but production is extremely small. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Chester, VT; tel. (802) 875-2139

The bevy of white wine offerings from Chateau Beaucastel is impressive. The limited production (approximately 10,000 bottles) of Chateauneuf du Pape Roussanne Vieilles Vignes in both 1996 and 1995 insures that few readers will ever get a chance to taste what is undeniably the greatest dry white wine made in the southern Rhone Valley. These are wines of extraordinary richness, with profound quantities of rose petals, honey, and smoke, as well as luxuriant richness, unctuous textures, and super density. The 1996 possesses more acidity, and may be marginally less concentrated and higher in acidity than the blockbuster 1995, but both of these full-bodied, multidimensional wines are glorious. The jury is still out as to how well they age, but the debut vintage of this wine, 1986, is still relatively young, and even lighter years are proving to be stunning, even better than many people (including me) initially thought. This cuvee is the Montrachet of the southern Rhone, but production is extremely small.Importer: Vineyard Brands, Chester, VT; tel. (802) 875-2139