The 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape Pure Roussanne offers more ripe stone fruits, pineapple, orange blossom, spice, and honeyed flowers in a concentrated, powerful, vibrant style that's certainly a match for the best examples of this variety out there. Medium to full-bodied, fresh, and elegant on the palate, it brings a touch more richness and power than the Clairette release but has a similar purity and overall level of class. It's a heavenly Southern Rhône white that I wish every reader could taste!

The 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape Pure Roussane is another strong effort from Usseglio. Fermented and aged in wood (a Stockinger foudre and a couple of Chassin barriques), it offers up classy aromas of pencil shavings, pear, melon and lime. In the mouth, it's medium to full-bodied, plump, fleshy and nicely textured, with a long, silky finish that hints at more toast and even a bit of hazelnut. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.