Picpoul de Pinet, ‘La Viste’, Côteaux du Languedoc, France, 2019
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Picpoul de Pinet, ‘La Viste’, Côteaux du Languedoc, France
Pale lemon coloured with green tints. The nose is delicate and complex. It shows first tropical fruit, then followed by mineral hints. The palate is well balanced, between a great smoothness and a zesty citrus acidity.
Grape Variety: 100% Picpoul
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£9.55
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2019 Picpoul de Pinet, ‘La Viste’, Côteaux du Languedoc, France
Tasting Note
Pale lemon coloured with green tints. The nose is delicate and complex. It shows first tropical fruit, then followed by mineral hints. The palate is well balanced, between a great smoothness and a zesty citrus acidity.
Food Pairing
One of the classic wines to pair with oysters, it is equally at home with any other shellfish or with Mediterranean fish such as bass or bream.
Producer Info
La Viste is based around grapes from a 4 hectare single estate that is under the management of the l’Ormarine co-operative, which is one of the largest producers of Picpoul de Pinet with 550 hectares under their control. This is the jewel in their crown, made from Picpoul, a very traditional local variety, this wine has a richness and depth allied to a delicious salty tang and is a perfect accompaniment to shellfish. The vineyards planted on hillsides surrounded by alternating pine forests and garrigue. Stony limestone clay soils.
Regional Info
Picpoul de Pinet is a sub-appellation of southern France’s Languedoc appellation specialising in full-bodied, citrus-scented white wines exclusively from Picpoul grapes. The area covered by the appellation runs along the southern French coast, separated from the waves of the Mediterranean Sea only by the Bassin de Thau, a lagoon measuring 11 miles (18km) long and three miles (5km) wide. The Picpoul de Pinet title covers the communities of Pinet, Meze, Florensac, Castelnau-de-Guers, Montagnac and Pomerols (not to be confused with Bordeaux’s Pomerol).
The climate here is obviously Mediterranean, with long, hot summers and relatively mild winters helping to bring the Picpoul grapes to full phenolic ripeness. There is also a strong marine influence, due to the area’s coastal proximity to the Bassin de Thau and the Mediterranean beyond it. This coastal area around Montpellier is famous for its resident flamingos and is one of the birds’ most northerly habitats. While many migrate south for winter, some remain here all year round, which demonstrates how mild the weather is in the cooler months.
Although it is a relatively small area, Picpoul de Pinet’s landscape is measurably varied from north to south. In the north, the terrain alternates between garrigue (the archetypal Provencal landscape of herb-strewn scrubland on limestone soils) and jagged outcrops of ancient rock. Due to the precise local topography, the maritime influences are much less pronounced than in the vineyards slightly closer to the coast.
In the south, the landscape is more homogenous, less jagged and more rolling, and opens up directly to the sea. This area is almost exclusively planted with vines, and benefits from the maritime influences of cooling morning and evening breezes. The soils are mostly alluvial, with a high proportion of free-draining sandy types.
Winemaking
La Viste is vinified at the l’Ormarine cooperative using fruit from a small domaine of the same name. The grapes are totally hand-harvested and sorted. After a 8-hours skin contact, the grapes are gently pneumatically pressed. The fermentation is carried out at low temperature (16°C) in stainless steel tank in order to keep as much fruit as possible. A 3 months ageing on the lees follows before bottling.
4 reviews for Picpoul de Pinet, ‘La Viste’, Côteaux du Languedoc, France, 2019
Nick –
This wine is exceptionally good value. Subtle layers of flavour that I would pay much more for, but it also withstood accompanying a spicy salad. I’ll be coming back for more.
Nick –
Great value, enough going on but easy drinking enough to make it a regular tipple
June –
Lynne Sefton –