La Mirande Picpoul De Pinet (AOP) 2023, 13.0% ABV
RRP: €17.35. Stockists: Stockists: 64 Wine Dublin, Bradley’s of Cork, Greenman Dublin, Le Caveau Kilkenny
A gorgeous, thirst-quenching Picpoul
Chateau de la Mirande, with its vineyard surrounded by garigue, is located in the Languedoc, in an area with a saltwater lagoon dedicated to producing and cultivating oysters and mussels. And this is just the wine to pair with these bivalve molluscs! This stellar example of Picpoul is Very Highly Recommended.
Green harvesting and organic viticulture are part of the estate’s philosophy. Marie-Laure took over the vineyard after her father Joseph Albajan's passing and continues the family tradition of producing superb, thirst-quenching Picpoul, loaded with flavour, freshness, and vitality.
The La Mirande has a clear, light gold colour and fresh aromas of peaches, apricots and citrus fruits with a little aniseed in the background. The texture is very crisp with good acidity. The flavours are of stone fruits and white flowers with a dash of lemon and lime, leading to a sharp and refreshing finish.
Mussels and oysters will be the simplest of accompaniments for your nicely chilled Picpoul, while a linguine of crab and chilli is also shortlisted!
Picpoul de Pinet is often called the Muscadet of the south. It is an approachable white wine for any dining occasion, including as an aperitif, and I find it can fill in, more than adequately, for Alarbino. The name means lip—stinger (after its high acidity), but that has never put anyone off enjoying it!
Picpoul is an ancient grape, but the disease Phylloxera almost did for it until the French discovered it could thrive on sandy soil. Hence its renaissance in the Languedoc. It is no surprise, then, that Picpoul is found in coastal vineyards such as those which surround Pinet and the Etang de Thau (lots of oysters here, conveniently!), just west of Montpellier.
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