2002 Roussanne Vieilles Vignes, Château de Beaucastel
Dry, White, Still
France
To be consumed 2005 – 2010 
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Region Details
A confident wind is blowing through the Rhône valley; Syrah, Grenache and Viognier are the grapes of the moment, and the Mediterranean diet has been adopted around the world as the mark of a good life, further energising sales of Rhône wines. From Côte-Rôtie through to the Châteauneuf-du-Pape, there is a sense of optimism and forward motion.
While united by the presence of the river, the two halves of the region couldn’t be more different. The northern Rhône consists of a narrow band of vineyards that follow the course of the river as it heads south. The vineyards are dramatically steep in parts, and the climate is continental, similar to that of the southern extremes of Burgundy. In terms of the wines produced, Syrah reigns supreme as the only red varietal, while white wines invariably consist of a proportion of both Marsanne and Roussanne.
Other than the river, the south shares very little with the north. Flatter and much more Mediterranean in climate, it is Grenache that features most heavily for red wine production, supported mainly by Syrah and Mourvèdre. White wine production is equally as varied; Grenache Blanc, Bourbelenc, Clairette, Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne are all found here. With such a wide base of varieties, styles and wines can and do vary dramatically.
Vintage Notes
2002 - Rhône
The worst of the summer storms was largely localised to the villages west of Avignon. While necessitating careful work in the vineyards, conditions permitted growers to make vivacious whites with clean flowing palates. In the north conditions were significantly better and luscious, medium bodied wines were made.
Grape Variety
A stablemate of Marsanne in the Northern Rhône, comprising the two permitted varieties in Hermitage and Saint-Joseph. Also found in the southern Rhône, particularly in châteauneuf-du-pape white blends. Roussanne berries have a faint red tint (in French Roux = russet), and as a wine it has a fresh, faintly herbal aroma and crisp acidity. Like an apple when cut, the variety has a tendency to oxidise if not handled carefully. Beginning to be found in California and Australia.
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