Château Mont-Redon 2023 Lirac Blanc 750ml

ChâteauMont-Redon traces its modern history to1923, when Henri Plantinacquired an isolated propertyon the plateauabove what would become theChâteauneuf-du-Pape appellation — avisionary act that preceded the AOC'sformal creation by thirteen years. The2023 vintage is, fittingly, theestate's 100th anniversary year,celebrated with limited-edition labelsdesigned by local artist Gaël Serre.Today the Fabre and Plantin familiesrun the largest estate in theChâteauneuf-du-Pape appellation,farming 100 hectares of vines in asingle contiguous block — and since1997, an additional 35 hectares in theneighboring Lirac appellation, on theleft bank of the Rhône river justnorthwest of Avignon.

The Lirac Blancis one of the Southern Rhône's mostgenuinely interesting and mostconsistently under-discovered whitewine expressions — a four-variety blendfrom the appellation's rocky puddingstone terraces whose combination ofGrenache Blanc's roundness, Roussanne'saromatic richness, Clairette'sfreshness, and Viognier's floral liftproduces something genuinely andspecifically different from bothChâteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc and thelighter Côtes du Rhône whiteexpressions. One-third of the wineferments and matures in Burgundianbarriques; the remaining two-thirds ishandled in stainless steel — asplit that gives the wine bothoak-derived texture and complexityand tank-preserved freshness andaromatic clarity.

JamesSuckling awarded the 2023 vintage 93points: "textured, balanced andattractive with aromas of spicedapples, dried plums and baking spices.Medium-bodied with plenty of textureand fresh acidity adding drive to thelong, vibrant and flavorful finish."The Wine-Searcher aggregate for the2023 is 92/100 — the highest aggregatescore this wine has received in recentyears, and fitting recognition for theestate's centenary vintage. Lemongrass,banana, honeysuckle, and a pinch ofsalt add to the picture — a SouthernRhône white of real complexity, builtfor the table, from the estate thatPierre Fabre is, in the words of onerespected critic, bringing "back to itsprior glory."

Origins & Craftsmanship

ChâteauMont-Redon is the largest estate in theChâteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, with100 hectares of vines planted in asingle contiguous block in thenorthwestern part of the appellation —a remarkable achievement in a regionwhere vineyard fragmentation acrossmultiple tiny parcels is the norm. Theestate's Lirac vineyard, 35 hectaresacquired in 1997, sits on the left bankof the Rhône river in the Lirac AOC —an appellation adjacent to Tavel whosepudding stone and sandy terracesproduce wines of genuine structure andaromatic complexity. The estatecelebrates its 100th anniversary withthe 2023 vintage.

The 2023 Lirac Blancis built from four varieties inspecific proportions designed todeliver both aromatic expressivenessand textural weight: 35% Grenache Blancprovides the roundness and generositythat defines the Southern Rhône whitewine tradition; 30% Roussanne adds themost aromatic richness and the mostspecifically floral complexityavailable from any Rhône white variety;25% Clairettecontributes freshness, natural acidity,and a citrus brightnessthat preserves the wine's vibrancy; and10% Viognier adds the mostperfumed, most peach-and-apricot-forward aromatic lift that rounds theblend into something harmonious. Thefruit is hand-picked from therocky pudding stone terraces of Lirac,whole-bunch pressed andcold-settled with a light fining, thenfermented at cool temperatures of 14°to 16°C over threeweeks. One-third of the wine fermentsand maturesin Burgundian barriques — both new andone-year-old — while the balance ishandled in stainless steel tanks,producing a blend of oak-derivedtexture and tank-preserved freshness.The wine is matured for approximatelyeight months before blending andbottling in May.

Critics Reviews

James Suckling — 93 Points (2023 vintage, June 2025):
"Textured, balancedand attractive with aromas of spicedapples, dried plums and baking spices.Medium-bodied with plenty of textureand fresh acidity adding drive to thelong, vibrant and flavorful finish.Drink or hold."

Wine-Searcher aggregate — 92/100 (2023 vintage)

Wine-Searcher confirmed extended note:
"This wine presents an invitingfreshness, boasting aromas of ripelemongrass, banana, honeysuckle, grahamcracker and a pinch of salt."

Wine-Searcher community (extended confirmed notes, across vintages):
"Brilliant, pale yellow, greenish tints.Delicate, expressive nose where whiteflowers, citrus and a mineralbackground intertwine. Full mouthfeel,power offset by acidulous freshness.Long-lasting mineral character. Perfectfor white tablecloth dining."

"Lightgold with greenish tints. Attractivenose of tangerine with a floral touchand vanilla undertones. Supple attackshowing savoury, closely-integratedstuffing that is light, fresh andeasy-drinking."

"Brilliant lightyellow with green tints. Expressivenose of ripe stone fruits, aniseed andageing notes. The palate shows clear,generous expression supported by good,quite crisp freshness. Full all round.A real treat."

Wine Enthusiast — 90 Points (2022 vintage, for house style context)

Tasting Profile

Nose
Brilliant pale yellow with green tints — thewhole-bunch pressing and coolfermentation preserving the mostdelicate and most specifically aromaticqualities of the four-variety blend.Spiced apples and baking spices leadwith warmth and textural weight — theBurgundian barrique component's mostdirectly aromatic contribution. Driedplum adds a slightly richer, moreconcentrated stone fruit secondarynote. Ripe lemongrass, banana, andhoneysuckle add fresh tropical andfloral complexity from the Viognier andRoussanne components. White flowers anda mineral background intertwine, with adelicate tangerine note adding citrusbrightness.

Palate
Textured,balanced, and medium-bodied, with themost specifically notable quality beingthe simultaneous presence of richtexture and fresh acidity — theone-third barrique, two-thirdsstainless steel split's most directly palate-apparent contribution. Clear, generous expression is supported bygood, quite crisp freshness. A full,round entry gives way to a vibrantmid-palate of savoury,closely-integrated stuffing. Grahamcracker and a pinch of salt addcomplexity. Power offset by acidulousfreshness — the Clairette's mostspecifically structural and theViognier's most aromatic contributionskeeping the Grenache Blanc andRoussanne richness in lively balance.

Finish
Long, vibrant, andflavorful, with long-lasting mineralcharacter from the pudding stoneterraces carrying the close mostpersistently. Fresh acidity drives afinish of real length. Perfect forwhite tablecloth dining, as onereviewer specifically noted.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• White fish andfish in sauce — the producer's primaryrecommendation
• Shellfish —langoustines, scallops
• Grilled orroasted chicken with herbs
• Soft goatcheeses
• White tablecloth dininggenerally — as one reviewerspecifically recommended