Cuvée du Vatican Réserve de l'Abbé Blanc 2024

Cuvée du Vatican Réserve de l’Abbé Blanc is a southern Rhône white brimming with nectarine, honeysuckle and spice. It’s crafted by renowned winemaker Jean-Marc Diffonty––and this exclusive blanc is as captivating as his celebrated reds.

The Diffonty family are one of the oldest winemaking dynasties in the southern Rhône, and wine critic Robert Parker is a long-time devotee of Cuvée du Vatican. In fact, theirs was the first case of Châteauneuf-du-Pape he ever bought—a wine largely credited with launching his decades-long career. The label’s also been a favorite of the papacy since 1958, when Pope John XXIII blessed Cuvée du Vatican. (They still send a case to Rome each year.)

Just like his reds, this fine white hails from ideally situated vineyards that Jean-Marc proudly farms with a lutte raisonnée—a traditional French farming term loosely translates to the “reasoned struggle,” and in viticulture, refers to a farming approach where chemicals are used sparingly and only when absolutely necessary to promote overall sustainability.

Starring Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Viognier and Clairette, this luscious white delivers irresistible aromas of nectarine and honeysuckle blossom, which lead to rich waves of more super-ripe stone fruit, delicate spice, hints of wild herbs and complex minerality on the long, smooth finish.

This is the perfect match for vegetable quiche or scallop gratin—but if you want to get this beauty on your table, you’ll have to act quickly.