Prestige Cotes Du Rhone Blanc

Cotes du Rhone Blanc from Prestige is a white wine from France's Rhone Valley, bottled at 13.0% ABV. The reference material doesn't list the grape varieties, so it's worth knowing what the appellation usually brings. White Cotes du Rhone is typically a blend led by Grenache Blanc, often with Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Clairette or Bourboulenc. Expect a wine that sits between a crisp, high-acid white and a fuller, rounder one: ripe orchard and stone fruit such as pear, yellow peach and apricot, with white blossom and a touch of herbal or almond character. Blends from this part of the Rhone usually have a medium to full body for a white, with a soft, slightly oily texture from the southern grape varieties. Acidity tends to be moderate rather than sharp, which makes the wine rounded and easy to drink. Oak is not a given, since many whites at this level are made in stainless steel to keep the fruit fresh, and there are no tannins to speak of. Expect a clean, gently dry finish, perhaps with a faint bitter-almond note at the end. The texture and weight make it a good table wine. It works with roast chicken, creamy poultry dishes and pork, and with fish in butter or cream sauces such as pan-fried trout or baked cod. Provencal vegetable dishes, goat's cheese, and mild semi-soft cheeses suit it too, and so do mildly spiced dishes where a fuller white copes better than a lean one. Dishes with a lot of heat or a very acidic dressing will flatten its softer profile. Serve it chilled but not ice-cold, ideally at 8 to 11°C (46 to 52°F). Straight from a very cold fridge, the aromatics will be muted, so give it ten minutes or so on the counter. Decanting is not needed, although pouring it into a jug briefly can open up the aromas if it feels tight. A standard white wine glass with a slightly generous bowl is the right choice, as it gives the stone fruit and floral notes room without letting the wine warm too quickly. This is a drink-now bottle: wines of this style are made for freshness and are best enjoyed within a couple of years of release rather than cellared.