A couple of splendid French whites, from the north-east (Alsace) and the south-west (Gaillac).
Laurent Cazottes “Adèle” Vin de France 2018, 14.5%
€19.95 64 Wine Dublin, Bradley’s of Cork, Greenman Dublin, Le Caveau Kilkenny
Adèle blanc is 100% Mauzac rose, an indigenous grape from the Gaillac region. where you'll find Domaine Laurent Cazottes. Husband and wife team, Laurent and Marina, are known for making exceptional, artisan eau de vie from various fruits they organically farm. They also make gorgeous wine from old vine Gaillac grape varieties: Mauzac, Braucol and Duras. Their wine, like their eau de vie, is certified organic and treated with great care. Highly Recommended.
Adèle’s colour is more orange than gold. Aromas hint of ripe apples. Lively, and complex, on the rich and rounded palate, intense white fruit flavours (pear, apple), with a fine acidity too, all the way through to the warming (sherry like) finish. Should be versatile at the table. Think I’d start with free range pork (preferably Woodside Farm) with apple sauce, followed by Tarte Tatin.
I think I’d like to have Cazottes as neighbours. In addition to the wines, they also cultivates 600 “Williams” pear trees, no less than “1300 truffle oaks for the melano sporum truffle, 1000 saffron bulbs, oil from our sunflower, bread wheat, barley, black oats, sparse hay, aromatic plants for the production of floral waters and essential oils." Everything is in organic farming, the Cazottes estate is certified by "Nature et Progrès”.
Domaine de l’Achillée Riesling Alsace (AOP) 2016, 12%, €27.95 64 Wine Dublin, Bradley’s of Cork, Greenman Dublin, Le Caveau Kilkenny
Colour of this organic Alsace Riesling is a lovely light gold, quite bright. Aromas are rather intense with lime leading the way, a slight background note of diesel. Quite a presence on the palate, superb flavours of grapefruit and lime, a terrific acidity too and the harmony holds all the way through the persistent finish. Highly Recommended
The label suggests serving at 12 degrees. Don’t put it in the fridge, rather leave it outside the back door these Autumn evenings! They say it is perfect with seafood and raw vegetables. Excellent with all dishes based on white meat and fish, preferably freshwater. Try it with baked trout.
Domaine de L’Achillée is an Alsace winery, situated less than an hour south-west of Strasbourg. The Dietrich family have farmed the land here since 1600. These days they concentrate on grapes and other fruits and have been organic since 1999.
In 2016, the two sons of Yves Dietrich, Jean and Pierre, joined the adventure to give it a big boost, to become independent. Quickly accompanied by an equally passionate team, they built together a straw winery where they now vinify the fruits of the family estate. Apparently, the heavily compacted straw bales are more fire-proof than the iron frame that supports them. Their website says this is the largest straw building in Europe.
