Many people think of red Rhône wines, but there are terrific white wines as well. I received a bottle of Louis Bernard Côtes du Rhône 2023 to tell you about. It is a blend that features Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Clairette, and Roussanne grapes.
Grenache Blanc is a full-bodied white grape with a round mouthfeel, offering ripe pear, green apple, and citrus aromas, often accompanied by a subtle herbal or saline note.
Bourboulenc brings a fresh, citrus-driven profile to blends, known for its vibrant acidity and delicate floral, grapefruit, and green tea aromas.
Clairette is a lighter-bodied variety with low acidity, offering notes of apple, peach, and sometimes a faint almond bitterness, often used to soften and add charm to a blend.
Roussanne contributes elegance and age-worthiness, with its hallmark aromas of pear, honey, and floral herbs, underpinned by a firm acidic backbone.
In the Côtes du Rhône, these white varieties have traditionally played supporting roles in blends, valued for their complementary attributes. Roussanne and Grenache Blanc lend richness and structure, while Bourboulenc and Clairette contribute brightness and lift.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Louis Bernard Côtes du Rhône 2023 (BC $17.99)
Appearance: A clear, medium-plus intensity lemon colour in the glass.
Nose: Pronounced aromas of pineapple, along with a mix of petrol, honey, bramble leaf, stoniness, and apple. It is about the same aromas after decanting, other than you lose the light petrol aroma, which is okay by me.
Palate: This wine is dry with medium-plus body, and a round, thicker mouthfeel. Mouthfilling. Pronounced flavours of pineapple and toast, along with touches of pith, almond bitterness, honey, and apple. Light acidic prickle from medium-plus acidity. No change to the mouthfeel or flavours in this wine after decanting.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with pineapple, toast, apple, pith and almond bitterness. Light pepperiness. Medium-plus acidity leaves with some prickle on your tongue. The wine picks up some bramble leaf and stoniness on the finish after decanting.
Not many changes to this wine after decanting, so you can open and enjoy it at your leisure. You may want to pair this wine with grilled scallops, smoked salmon, baked white fish in butter sauce, Camembert or Brie cheeses, or pasta with cream sauce.
Rating: 
The Louis Bernard Côtes du Rhône 2023 shows a bright, medium-plus lemon colour in the glass. Its pronounced aromas of pineapple mingle with honey, apple, bramble leaf, and a touch of stony minerality, while a hint of petrol fades after decanting. On the palate, this dry, full-bodied wine delivers mouth-filling richness, showcasing ripe pineapple and toasty notes together with almond bitterness, honey, and a light acidic prickle. The finish lingers with pineapple, toast, and appl*, accompanied by subtle pepperiness and a refreshing stony character emerging after decanting.
Where Can I Buy This Wine?
Louis Bernard Côtes du Rhône 2023 is available at BC Liquor stores. It is also available at select Everything Wine stores.
