Château Petit Roubié Picpoul de Pinet 2014, Coteaux du Languedoc, France. 13% ABV, $12/bottle. Made w/ organic grapes & certified organic by Ecocert France SAS.
I’ve been looking for a wine like this for a while. No, it’s not a wine where the initial taste blows me away and it doesn’t remind me of a special time in my life. Instead, this is a delicate wine that is designed to pair well with food. As a matter of fact, I would not suggest you enjoy this wine on its own, as it would not show as well as it can with grilled or raw fish, especially shellfish, and similar lighter fare.
Color is pale straw with a green tinge and the nose offers wildflowers and lemon zest with hints of petroleum and raw steel. In the mouth, the fruit is citrus in the mid palate with strong acidity on the side and back palate. The finish is clean with tangy citrus, while a touch of fresh heat crosses the top palate and a surprising line of minerals that mixed and confused my palate: silica, schist, flint, marl, clay, halite, limestone, & sandstone. What a wine for ceviche, raw seafood, sushi, and gently cooked fish, or grilled chicken, or for your vegan friends, a plate of grilled asparagus and greens! This is a wine I’ve wanted so many times when I’m cooking a delicate fish course and I wanted a neutral, complementary wine, not a big bold fruit up front new world wine or a super expensive white burgundy.
For a choice that is certified organic, made with organic grapes, and a great complement for delicate food, I did not expect this to come in at under $14. But it did! I’ve had plenty of great surprises from the Languedoc region, so why not a picpoul blanc? Don’t believe me. Find a bottle and taste for yourself as long as you pair it with something light and fresh. You can thank me later. I’ll be finding more of this to stash for future meals, and bringing a few with me to the beach house, pre-chilled, twist-off tops ready for dinner service.
à votre santé!
jvb uncorked 
Pouilly-Fumé, s’il vous plaît!
9 JunDomaine du Bouchot Pouilly-Fumé 2014, Saint Andelain, France. Organic. 13%ABV, Found online from $17-25 /bottle.
Medium straw in color with good clarity, the nose features grapefruit, lemon zest, and lilac. The mouthfeel is savory with bright fruit, perhaps a stolen moment of Loire summertime in a glass. White peach, lychee, and grapefruit dominate the palate with lemon and lime following with racing acidity, beautiful herbal and floral notes expand as they cross the top palate, as notes of gooseberry, clay, flint and limestone appear on the back palate. This wine will remind you of what you adore, be it Sancerre, Loire valley whites, or sauvignon blanc – I rarely find people who adore all three (I myself only am a huge fan of ONE of those descriptors) but this is simply a lovely wine, whatever you prefer to call it. Match it at this price point ($17/bottle? I must have hit the jackpot, because I bought a case!) Oh, did I mention the wine is organic? This is one to pour just below room temperature, sit back and smile smugly as you know you got a tremendous deal on a stunning Pouilly-Fumé for a pittance. Then savor the aromas and flavors and watch the day escape, knowing that life is too brief, but moments of beauty can be found in your glass when you search for them.
Believe me, I will keep an eye out for winemaker Pascal Kerbiquet and Domaine Du Bouchot. If you love amazing, organic sauvignon blanc from the Loire, you might do the same thing.
à votre santé!
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Tags: Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Organic Wine, Sauvignon Blanc, White wine review, Wine Commentary