2013 Rotem and Mounir Saouma Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Magis

Magis is Mounir's white Chateauneuf from the heavily limestone Pierredon vineyard in Bedarrides. Mounir must have a higher estimation of white CdP than anyone in the region. Only 3% of Chateauneuf is white, and virtually all of it is bottled after 6 months. He does a hard press into new 500 liter barrels, where fermentation and then aging takes place. The aging is a minimum of 2 years. The composition is approximately 75% Grenache Blanc, 10% Clairette, 10% Roussanne and 5% Bourboulenc. It's utterly mystifying how this wine exhibits both suppleness and tension, as well as intense minerality.