Charbonnière has 12 hectares of prime vineyard in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and 4.5 hectares in Vacqueyras. This is a top quality domaine making rich, succulent wines of great style. Michel Maret has now handed over the running of the property to his daughters. Their white is now one of the best in the region, made from 40% Roussanne, 40% Grenache Blanc and 20% Clairette.

One of the best value examples, creamy and dense, with that classic anise list. Big wine. Made from only 1 hectare of white varieties that the estate has scattered in their various parcels with sandier and calcareous soils. Each variety is harvested by hand and pressed into a 25HL oak vat for fermentation by indigenous yeasts, after primary fermentation it remains in the same vat until bottling in April after the harvest.

Classic southern Rhone white, made from Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Viognier. Fresh and floral with full, round stone fruit flavours and a lithe lick of minerals. Delicious.

50% Grenache Blanc, 40% Clairette (planted 1950) from 0.9 hectare on very stony alluvial soils at Sablet and 10% Roussanne on Gramiller at La Montagnette at Rasteau. The wine sees ferment in 80% steel vat, 20% old oak cask. Then bred for 6 months. 2,500 bottles produced. The nose is all freshly cut juicy pears and gorgeous white flowers - so pretty, utterly charming. More fruit and flowers to the palate's silky juice. This is medium-bodied, elegant and long Southern Rhone white wine with fine acid. Really jolly drinking and great with delicate fish or simply as the classiest aperitif.

Deep, juicy, weighty but fresh and textural 100% old vine Clairette fermented and bred in clay amphora with no additional sulphites at any stage. Really pure and elegant - pears, honey and white flowers on this full bodied Southern Rhone white wine. A triumph. A future classic. Bravo Frederic Julien!

Xavier Gerard's baby Condrieu made from Viognier from Vérin, above Condrieu. 80% steel vat, 20% 300-litre & 600-litre oak cask fermented at 15°C, raised 6-8 months away from its lees in 22 hl large barrel & steel vat, malo usually blocked, first wine 2006 (600-litre cask, the oaked part of it, malo not completed) yellow colour; pear, apricot feature in a bouquet that is nicely funnelled. There’s a good run of spiced fruits along the palate. That carries a nice bit of weight, nice detail.

Made from two lieu dits, high up on the slopes overlooking the majestic Rhone. The wine has classic Viognier nose of peach, apricot, toasted spice and honey. Medium-bodied with good fruit and texture and shows a more mineral character than the richer Le Chatillon Condrieu cuvee.

Viognier (1984-85) from 1.1 hectare on Côte Châtillon at Condrieu, raised 50-60% 22 hl large oak barrel and 40-50% steel vat, malo completed. "fine yellow robe; the nose is very elegant, composed of peach, aniseed, white plum, has an excellent floating style, grace. This is top tack! It has much suavity of texture, with very assured persistence, is refined and gliding throughout. It’s real good Châtillon, bang on the money as it should be. It bears neat iron touches, has a pear-buttery flavour, and butter-floral late moments, a dab of petrol also. Much refinement here." Jonathan Livingstone-Learmonth