It's been all about the Rhone region for me recently.  I started to explore this region in more depth a little over a month ago first with some 2003 CDPs and then moved onto older vintages.  From there, I moved north into Hermitage and spent a few nights with some older bottles.  What I was beginning to figure out was these wines are an unbelievable deal!  When I first entered the wine world, I was unsure of Rhone wines because of the power that they provide when they are young.  This is not the case as they age.  The wine seems to shed some of that alcoholic pretense and meaty tendencies and awaken a more refined and acceptable palate. 

I kept hearing how amazing white Rhone wines could be - that they compare to Montrachet at a fraction of the cost.  What was all this buzz about I wondered to myself?  Recently, we were offered an amazing deal on 2007 Beaucastel Roussanne VV, and I took the opportunity to grab a six pack.  What I expected, and what I got were two completely different things.  Usually when people hype wine up and tell me how great it is, my expectations are set too high, and they come crashing down once I try the wine.  This however, was not the case.  The only thing to come crashing down was the fact that I only had six bottles?that was at first.

Chateau Beaucastel harvests three hectares, or around seven acres, of the Vieilles Vignes, which simply means 'old vines,' each year to create their Roussanne Vieilles Vignes.  Beaucastel has been producing wine in the Rhone for many generations.  Run now by the grandchildren of Jacques Perrin, the winery continues to lead the way in world-class Rhone wines.  They create many different wines, including some great value wines as well as high-end masterpieces.  Three whites are produced: CDP white, Roussanne VV and the Coudoulet de Beaucastel.

I brought a bottle of the '07 Beaucastel Roussanne VV to a restaurant I like to frequent because they have an amazing menu offering ever-changing and unique interpretations on what cuisine can and should be. When I arrived, the smell of popcorn was in the air.  No, I wasn't at the movie theater, they just happened to have Truffle Popcorn on the menu.  The popcorn was unbelievable - the chef popped the kernels in truffle butter and then added truffle salt on top for the finish.  How would this taste I wondered with the Roussanne? Let me tell you, it did not fail to impress.  The '07 Roussanne had all of the right flavors to match the truffle.  The nose started off with a touch of green apples and pears and tickled the hair in my nose with scents of spring.  I couldn't wait for this nectar to hit my palate.  Almost instantly, I could taste what reminded me of fresh honey, and the finish continued to go on forever.  A perfect complement to the truffle popcorn and a beautiful night on the terrace. 

White Rhones are so incredible that they never last in our inventory too long when they arrive. And unfortunately, the 2007 Beaucastel Roussanne VV is now sold out too. But, we do have another fantastic white Rhone that's being sold on pre-arrival that I highly recommend  - the high-scoring2010 Guigal Condrieu la Doriane - 98 points Robert Parker at $95/bottle.