Chateau de Vaudieu

Château de Vaudieu is a handsome 18th-century property in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in the Bréchet family's hands for over fifty years. Laurent Bréchet, the current generation, has continued to raise the quality, working with the appellation's classic varieties in both red and white. The reds are built on Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault; the whites draw on Grenache Blanc, Clairette, and Roussanne.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape can be inconsistent at mid-range prices, but Vaudieu is a reliable address. The wines are properly made and true to the appellation, with the warmth and generosity the southern Rhône is known for, balanced by enough freshness to work at the table.