The 2016 Pape Star Blonde is made up of 80% Grenache Blanc and 20% Roussanne. It has a pretty nose with grapefruit and quince hints plus lime peel, saline, white peach and white flowers with a wicked streak of crushed rock minerality. Medium to full-bodied, it has great mineral-driven character with a good core of citrus fruit, zesty acidity and a long, textured finish. 92 pts
The 2019 Pape Star Blonde is straight-up impressive and reminds me of a great Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc. A blend of 80% Grenache Blanc and 20% Roussanne, it has ripe quince and pineapple fruits, some honeyed herb and toasty notes, medium body, and a layered, textured, yet light-on-its-feet style on the palate that's going to shine on the dinner table. 94 Pts Jeb Dunnuck
We started this project in 2013, making just 69 odd cases with the help of Michael Cruse in Petaluma. Since then we have been refining our techniques in our own cellars. This bottling, made 100% at our Goleta winery in the true Methode Champenoise, is bone dry, with zero dosage. You’ll find it clean and crisp, though pleasingly complex, with lovely signature Jurassic Park flavors of apricot and quince throughout.
Nothing other than grapes were added or used in its creation. The wild yeasts that were on the skins completed the fermentation and the anti-oxidants in the skins and seeds provided all the protection necessary during elevage and bottling. No sulfur was added to this wine at any time, nor was it fined or filtered prior to bottling.
This wine is crisp and clean with subtle watermelon flavors, ripe peach, pink flowers and a soft mouth feel. With an alcohol of just 12.5% and plenty of acidity, the wine is easy drinking and very food friendly.
A blend of 67% Grenache Blanc, 22% Roussanne and 11% Marsanne the 2015 Pape Star Blonde shows off the best qualities of a mature wine. Concentrated nose of lemon custard, apricot, and ripe pineapple are accompanied by floral notes. The palate is generous with lots of minerality and flint on the finish. At 7 years the wine is admirably fresh and full of life.
