An Interview with Laure Capeau of Domaine Berthet-Rayne

 

While the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, in the southern Rhône valley, is world-renowned for its powerful, age-worthy red wines, it also produces distinctive white wines of great finesse, veritable rising stars that brilliantly express this exceptional terroir. To learn more, we spoke with Laure Capeau of Domaine Berthet-Rayne, one of the appellation's flagship family estates.

 

"The whites of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are known for their richness, complexity and freshness," explains Laure Capeau. "Golden in color, they develop aromas of white fruits, flowers like honeysuckle and narcissus, evolving over time towards notes of honey and toasted bread. On the palate, they combine roundness and vivacity."

 

At Domaine Berthet-Rayne, white wines represent a modest but important part of the production. The estate crafts two distinct cuvées:

 

• Tradition Blanc, a blend of Clairette, Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne

• Roussanne: and a 100% Roussanne cuvée.

 

"For our Tradition Blanc, we use modern winemaking equipment like pneumatic presses and temperature-controlled fermentations. This allows us to preserve the freshness of the fruit and the aromatic purity," emphasizes Laure Capeau. The wine seduces with its pale yellow color, harmonious bouquet of citrus and flowers, and balance between fruitiness and freshness on the palate.

 

The estate's single-variety Roussanne cuvée takes a slightly different approach. Aged 4 months in barrels on the lees, it boasts a more sustained golden color and a more opulent texture. "Roussanne brings aromas of white peach, candied citrus, white flowers, brioche and vanilla. It's a very refined wine, with a lot of roundness and a subtly honeyed finish."

 

Asked about recent developments, Laure Capeau highlighted Domaine Berthet-Rayne's ongoing commitment to sustainability. "We transitioned to organic viticulture in 2004 and obtained the 'Vin issu de raisins de l'agriculture biologique' certification in 2007, then organic wine certification starting with the 2012 vintage. This is in continuity with our long family tradition of respecting our terroir and seeking the highest quality."

 

Even though Châteauneuf-du-Pape remains best known for its powerful reds, the whites are rapidly gaining notoriety thanks to passionate winemakers like Laure and Martial Capeau. With their captivating aromas, depth of flavors and aging potential, these elegant whites prove the immense potential of the appellation in different styles. Absolutely worth discovering to appreciate another facet of this legendary terroir.