KYSELA PERE ET FILS, LTD.

"Always all Roussanne, the 2022 Châteauneuf du Pape La Fontaine Blanc comes from organically grown grapes and was brought up entirely in oak. It's a brilliant white that would compete with a Grand Cru White Burgundy with its smoky stone fruits, brioche, crushed stone, and floral aromatics. Full-bodied on the palate, with a deep, layered mouthfeel, huge richness, and a great finish, this is legit awesome white wine that I'd be thrilled to have in the cellar. I love it today yet see no reason it shouldn't evolve gracefully for at least a decade."

- Jeb Dunnuck (Importer Highlight: Fran Kysela ; July 2024), 97 pts

"The 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Fontaine Blanc is a much more concentrated, serious wine, and it takes plenty of air to show at its best today. Based on Roussanne, it has a medium gold hue as well as rich aromatics of honeyed stone fruits, orange blossom, caramelized peach, and toasted bread. Beautiful on the palate as well, it’s medium-bodied, has a layered, concentrated mouthfeel, good acidity, and a great finish. Give it a year or three in the cellar and enjoy over the following decade."

- Jeb Dunnuck (November 2022), 94 pts

"Very oaky on the nose and palate, with intensely concentrated, sappy lemon and lime fruit underneath. Toasty, smoky, nutty oak notes dominate the long finish. For serious oak lovers only - and they'll love it. Richly concentrated, pure, powerful and very long. North-facing Roussanne planted on clay limestone. Fermented and matured for 10 months in barriques - 50% new, 50% one-year-old. 4,000 bottles made. - Matt WALLS"

 - Decanter (October 1st 2022), 94 pts

"Honeycomb, jasmine, cinnamon and rich pear. Intense and tangy, this has driving acidity and powerful spice. Will be a very good wine when it's ready, in a oak-driven style, as it's crisp, clear and defined, with a saline touch to the palate that helps to balance everything. North-facing Roussanne planted on clay limestone. Fermented and matured for 10 months in barriques, 50% new, 50% one-year-old. 4,000 bottles made. - Matt WALLS"

 - Decanter (October 1st 2021), 96 pts

"The all-Roussanne 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc La Fontaine boasts scents of toasted grain, ripe peach and pineapple. Full-bodied yet fresh, with a long, mouthwatering finish riddled with lime zest and sherbet, it's a super example of white Chateauneuf. Tasted twice (once blind), with the review reflecting the better bottle. The wood seemed clumsier in the other sample, clashing with the lush fruit ."

- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (May 2022), 94 pts

"Based on 100% Roussanne brought up in 50% new barrels, the medium gold-hued 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Fontaine Blanc has a rocking bouquet of ripe melon, honeyed pineapple, and toasted bread that carries to a pretty, pure, focused yet still medium to full-bodied white offering beautiful freshness and length. It's going to have over a decade of prime drinking, and I'd give bottles another 6-12 months before opening."

- Jeb Dunnuck (November 2021), 94 pts

"A tiny production, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Fontaine Blanc is beautifully done and certainly ranks with the top wines of the vintage. Based on 100% Roussanne, it has a smoking bouquet of buttered citrus, caramelized white currants, toasted bread, and a touch of nuttiness to go with a medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated style on the palate. With bright acidity, good mid-palate depth, and a great finish, this serious Roussanne can be enjoyed now or cellared for 10-15 years, if not longer."

- Jeb Dunnuck (October 2020), 95 pts

"This is 100% Roussanne vinified in oak. A perfumed, smoky sip, it balances notes of sweet spice, vanilla and tobacco leaf against a core of honeyed tangerine and apple flavors. Luscious and leesy on the palate, it's held upright by a fresh streak of lemon and hints of white pepper on the midpalate. Inviting young, the wine should hit a second peak after 2030. - ANNA LEE C. IIJIMA"

 - Wine Enthusiast (April 2022), 94 pts

"The top cuvée is the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Fontaine Blanc and it's all Roussanne brought up in 50% new barrels. Deeper and richer than the base cuvée, it offers terrific notes of caramelized pineapple, honeysuckle, white flowers, and buttered toast as well as medium to full body, nicely integrated acidity, terrific balance, and a great finish. It's rich, nicely concentrated, yet balanced and lively on the palate. It's geared for the dinner table and should keep for 4-5 years, if not longer."

- Jeb Dunnuck (August 16th 2019), 94 pts

Go to Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape la Fontaine Blanc

Limpid gold. Ripe citrus and pit fruit aromas are complemented by suggestions of candied ginger, pungent flowers and sweet butter. Fleshy and broad on the palate, offering impressively concentrated peach, pear nectar and tangerine flavors that tighten up slowly on the back half. In a hefty but energetic style, showing impressive clarity and minerally thrust on a very long, tactile finish. - Josh Raynolds"

- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (October 2018), 93 pts

Go to Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape la Fontaine Blanc

"The 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc La Fontaine is all Roussanne, marked by scents of flowers and tropical fruit. A blend of barrel and tank-fermented portions, it's full-bodied, plush and rich, picking up complex hints of citrus, honey, clove, baking spices and pencil shavings on the long finish. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. - Joe Czerwinski"

- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue 238, August 31st 2018), 92-95 pts

Go to Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape la Fontaine Blanc

"Dusty earth tones meld into honey, pressed apple and pear in this rich, slightly savory wine made from 100% Roussanne. It's a concentrated, voluminous white fermented and aged in oak (50% new). The finish is marked by delicate hints of toast and spice. Best now–2025. - ANNA LEE C. IIJIMA"

 - Wine Enthusiast (February/March 2021), 91 pts

"The flagship 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc La Fontaine is a more substantial, serious effort that offers notes of caramelized citrus, brioche, honeysuckle and orange blossom. Rich, layered and concentrated, yet also fresh and lively, it's a terrific white that's going to sing on the dinner table. Drink it anytime over the coming 4-5 years (it will keep even longer)."

- Jeb Dunnuck (October 20107), 95 pts

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"Vivid straw-gold. An intensely perfumed bouquet evokes ripe pear, candied orange, smoky minerals and chamomile, along with a deeper suggestion of honey. Energetic, palate-staining citrus and orchard fruit flavors show outstanding clarity and slowly put on weight and spread out with air. The mineral note reappears on the finish, which shows a noteworthy combination of richness and sharply defined, bright, filigreed character. - Josh Raynolds"

- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (October 2018), 94 pts

Go to Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape la Fontaine Blanc

"The full-bodied, creamy-textured and amazingly plush 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc La Fontaine is a blend of barrel-fermented and tank-fermented Roussanne. The aromas of honey, vanilla and bergamot are intense, as are the pineapple notes on the palate. The wine finishes long, given definition by briny and bitter notes. My advice is to opt for caution when aging these big whites and drink them while the fruit is still paramount. - Joe Czerwinski"

- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue 233, October 2017), 92-94+ pts

Go to Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape la Fontaine Blanc

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- Wine Enthusiast Magazine (September 2018), 91 pts

Go to Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Cuvee La Fontaine

"Limpid yellow-gold. Ripe citrus and pit fruits, honey, buttered toast and pungent flowers on the deeply perfumed nose, with a smoky mineral nuance building in the glass. Supple and broad on entry, offering sappy peach, pear nectar and Meyer lemon flavors that tighten up slowly on the back half. The honey note reappears on an impressively long, penetrating finish that leaves a suggestion of buttered toast behind. I really like the combination of power and energy here.- Josh Raynolds"

- Vinous (Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc: Moving Out of the Shadows (June2017), 93 pts

Go to Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape la Fontaine Blanc

"A bigger, richer wine, the 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape La Fontaine Blanc is still aging in barrel and is marginally darker in color than the classic white. Buttered apples, brioche, honeycomb and hint of orange blossom emerge from this full-bodied, concentrated, seriously textured white that has moderate acidity and tons of fruit. It will be interesting to see how this comes together, but it has serious potential. - Jeb Dunnuck"

- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue 227, October 28th 2016), 92-94+ pts

Go to Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape la Fontaine Blanc

"The 2014 'La Fontaine' Blanc is made from 100% Roussane. It has a very pretty aromas of quince, ripe lemon, honey, tropical fruit, followed by underlining notes of vanilla, wild flowers and herbs which all come together beautifully in the glass. The rich texture is well balanced and shows a lovely touch of acidity adding freshness. The finish is long and simply delicious. This is already outstanding, and also shows lots of potential for an even brighter future over the next decade plus. (Best 2017-2027) - M.D."
- International Wine Report (September 2015), 93 pts

Go to Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Cuvee La Fontaine

"A broad, creamy, flattering style, with a macadamia nut frame around creamed melon, plantain, yellow apple and butter notes. Well-buried acidity lets the finish linger. Drink now through 2018. 300 cases made."
- Wine Spectator (October 2016), 92 pts

Go to Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Cuvee La Fontaine