Popped the cork last night on our last remaining bottle of '04 M. Chapoutier 'blanc Deschants'. The extra time in the cellar made all the difference for this delightful wine.
Crisp and lively, with nuances of pear and apple, this subtle and easy drinking wine was a great accompaniment to our New Year's fondue.
Confession; we are growers of Marsanne, so we're a bit biased towards this northern rhone varietal. But this wine really is delightful. Softer and fruitier than it's higher priced brother - the "les Granits" cuvee, this wine shows off the fruit more than the terroir - which appeals more to my decidedly New World palate.
The hard part is finding this wine. If you can, definitely recommended.