Chateau de Nalys Saintes Pierres de Nalys Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2019
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wine
Spectator -
Robert
Parker -
James
Suckling
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Translated as “holy stones”, a play on the soils and history of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the second white wine to Château de Nalys has a character all its own, with a strongly different varietal and plot composition, and like its red Saintes Pierres counterpart, a fermentation, and aging geared towards emphasizing freshness. Pale youthful gold, brilliant and limpid color. Elegant mineral nose with notes of citrus and peach. On the palate a beautiful richness, with freshness and minerality. A complete wine, elegant and balanced.
Pair with a variety of starters; fish baked in salt, grilled, prepared as crudo or sashimi; fresh or aged goat cheese.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
I loved the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Saintes Pierres De Nalys Blanc last year, and I love it still. Gorgeous citrus, white flowers, salty mineral, and a touch of honeysuckle emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, with wonderfully balanced acidity and a great finish. It's ideal for enjoying over the coming decade or so.
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Wine Spectator
A bright and pure style, with a mix of acacia, honeysuckle, white peach and white nectarine notes. Subtle shortbread accents add to the lengthy finish. Clairette, Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Picardan. Drink now through 2023.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Drawn mainly from the lieux-dits of Bois Sénéchal and Nalys, the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Saintes Pierres Blanc is a crisp, focused, almost Burgundian-styled white, with a healthy dose of Clairette in the blend. It's medium-bodied, linear and long, with notes of white pepper and lime zest on the nose.
Rating: 91+ -
James Suckling
Aromas of lilies, green apples and elderberries. Medium-bodied. Rather crisp. Fresh and bright with some nice driving acidity. Oyster shell and lemon peel. Restrained. 36% clairette, 29% bourbolenc, 25% grenache blanc, 7% roussanne, 3% picardan. Drink or hold.
Other Vintages
2020-
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wine
Spectator
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Jeb
Dunnuck
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wilfred
Wong - Decanter
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Robert
Parker
Since their very first vintage bottled under the Guigal name, in 1946, the Guigal family has produced a Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The terroirs of Nalys realize a dream spanning three generations to join this leading prestigious and historic appellation. A property of 125 contiguous acres, Nalys is comprised of three spectacular plots within three of the best vineyards in the appellation: the famous “La Crau”, Nalys, and “Bois Sénéchal”. Already listed in regional land registers at the end of the 16th century, Chateau de Nalys is one of the oldest properties in the appellation, and begins a new chapter in the hands of Guigal.
Full-bodied and flavorful, white Rhône blends originate from France’s Rhône Valley. Today these blends are also becoming popular in other regions. Typically some combination of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier form the basis of a white Rhône blend with varying degrees of flexibility depending on the exact appellation. Somm Secret—In the Northern Rhône, blends of Marsanne and Roussanne are common but the south retains more variety. Marsanne, Roussanne as well as Bourboulenc, Clairette, Picpoul and Ugni Blanc are typical.
Famous for its full-bodied, seductive and spicy reds with flavor and aroma characteristics reminiscent of black cherry, baked raspberry, garrigue, olive tapenade, lavender and baking spice, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the leading sub-appellation of the southern Rhône River Valley. Large pebbles resembling river rocks, called "galets" in French, dominate most of the terrain. The stones hold heat and reflect it back up to the low-lying gobelet-trained vines. Though the galets are typical, they are not prominent in every vineyard. Chateau Rayas is the most obvious deviation with very sandy soil.
According to law, eighteen grape varieties are allowed in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and most wines are blends of some mix of these. For reds, Grenache is the star player with Mourvedre and Syrah coming typically second. Others used include Cinsault, Counoise and occasionally Muscardin, Vaccarèse, Picquepoul Noir and Terret Noir.
Only about 6-7% of wine from Châteauneuf-du-Pape is white wine. Blends and single-varietal bottlings are typically based on the soft and floral Grenache Blanc but Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne are grown with some significance.
The wine of Chateauneuf-du-Pape takes its name from the relocation of the papal court to Avignon. The lore says that after moving in 1309, Pope Clément V (after whom Chateau Pape-Clément in Pessac-Léognan is named) ordered that vines were planted. But it was actually his successor, John XXII, who established the vineyards. The name however, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, translated as "the pope's new castle," didn’t really stick until the 19th century.