2022 Domaine Bois de Boursan Châteauneuf du Pâpe Blanc

WINEMAKER: Jean-Paul Versino
REGION: Rhône Valley, FR
VARIETAL: Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Roussanne
VITICULTURE: Organic

"Very vibrant on the nose - citric, floral notes and orchard fruits all compete at once. In the mouth there are hints of lemon and a saltiness that I love, complexed by roasted nuts and white peach. The palate shows more obviously the southern richness than the nose. The balance and freshness excellent, this is gorgeous already." - Andrew Guard

Jean-Paul Versino at Bois de Boursan is one of the few growers who stick resolutely to traditional methods and his wines stand out for their wonderfully classical frame and style. This is the Burgundy of the South. The property was founded in 1955 by Jean Versino and continues to be operated today by his son Jean-Paul. This is a modest, 10-hectare property, with all the vineyards located inside the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Vine age spans from 55 to 95 years, with all farming at Bois de Boursan performed organically and without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. The property is carved up into 37 small sub-parcels, and while most modern producers in Châteauneuf-du-Pape work almost exclusively with Grenache, Jean-Paul works with all 13 permitted varieties for the appellation. This creates a complex mosaic of aromas and textures that is rarely found in the region. 

Similarly, vinification for this wine is über-traditional: grapes are left almost entirely in whole clusters (15% were de-stemmed in 2016) with the maceration on skins extending for at least three weeks. This is followed by 24 months in giant, neutral oak foudres.