Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc “Vieilles Clairettes”

Famille Isabel Ferrando
France
Rhône
2023

100% Clairette from 80-100 year-old vines in the Serres lieu-dit. Very low yields of 15hl/ha. Fermented and aged in glass demi-johns for 18 months. Bottled exclusively in magnum with limited availability.

98 points
"Another sensational white from this brilliant vigneron, the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Speciale Vieilles Clairettes offers white peach, orange, pear, crushed stone, and acacia flowers. It's a touch more expansive and sexy compared to the 2024, with medium to full body, a seamless, layered mouthfeel, integrated acidity, and remarkable length. It needs 3-4 years of bottle age and will evolve nicely over the following two decades."
Jeb Dunnuck,
JebDunnuck.com
November 2025
98 points
"“An incredibly aromatic, elegant and minerally white Chateuneuf-du-Pape. Great concentration, with every bit as much finesse on the full-bodied palate. The stony finish is so incredibly focused for a Southern French white. A pure clairette rosé that is the pink version of clairette. Matured two-thirds in Demi Muid oak casks and one-third in glass globes. Very limited production; only marketed in magnums.”"
James Suckling ,
JamesSuckling.com
May 2025
96 points
"A round, complex, broadly styled version that stays remarkably fresh, with layers of yellow fruit and star fruit woven with crushed stone and fleur de sel. A jolt of lemony freshness infuses the well-meshed palate, flecked with piecrust and ground ginger details. Shows power and restraint, with a long, smoky, succulent finish. Open and inviting now, this is also one for the cellar. "
Kristen Bieler,
Wine Spectator
October 2025
94-96 points
"A singular blend of 90% Clairette Rose and 10% Clairette from vines planted in a mix of galets roulés, sandy and chalky soils, the 2023 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Vieilles Clairettes from Isabel Ferrando is intensely flavored, evoking aromas of herbs, jasmine, pear, white flowers, iodine and white peach. Medium to full-bodied, pure and crystalline, it's charming and elegant with a racy, saline texture enhanced by a long, ethereal finish. Vinified and matured in wooden tanks (foudres), it shows great promise and promises to remain vibrant for the next two decades."
Yohan Castaing ,
Wine Advocate
November 2025

SKU/Code: 
DB7353-23
Product Line: 
National Portfolio
Wine
White
Varietal: 
Clairette
Farming Type: 
Organic