Château de Montfaucon, located on the right bank of the Rhône river just across Châteauneuf-du-Pape, has a long history dating back to the 11th century. The Pertuis family (the ancestors of the current owner Rodolphe de Pins, alias Rudi) acquired the castle in 1766. Montfaucon has a large variety in terroir and grapes (mostly old vines). Previously, the entire harvest was sold to the cooperative, but since Rudi took over in 1995, after a wine study and training on the job in California, the harvest used for Montfaucon's own production. Rudi is a master in blending, with harmony and balance as main objective. His enthusiasm seems to be locked up in the character of the wines: energetic, joyful, and most of all very distinctive. I consider this to be an interesting alternative for nowadays rather expensive Châteauneuf-du-Pape.