Clear straw color with just a hint of a greenish brassy hue. The Viognier in the mix shows itself first in an aromatic floral note, luscious flowers with back notes of pear. On the palate it’s full and bright, with a medium-full body shaped by good acidic structure; the floral character gives way to something like fresh orange blossoms that accentuate a citric snap and hint of “rainwater” minerality in a very long finish; 13% alcohol. U.S. importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, Ala. (Oct. 5, 2016)
FOOD MATCH: Good with simple fried white fish fillets (and their plant-based equivalent), but its floral hint of Viognier really calls for something a little more robust. Sweet crab or lobster, perhaps, or pastured pork or dark-meat poultry should be fine.
WHEN TO DRINK: It’s not a wine meant for keeping, and its fresh floral aromas and bright flavors call for drinking it up with reasonable dispatch. It’s probably at its best within three to four years after the vintage.
VALUE:
My local price is just a buck over the $11.99 average U.S. retail shown on Wine-Searcher.com, but quite a few vendors offer it for $10 or less, so it may be worth shopping around, especially if you’d like to buy it by the case.
WEB LINK
Famille Perrin has an information page about the Reserve Blanc at this link. You’ll find a similar fact sheet in PDF form on the importer’s page here.
FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:
Compare prices and find vendors for Famille Perrin Côtes du Rhône Blanc “Reserve” on Wine-Searcher.com.