We are not too mad about most Viognier from the Languedoc – it seems to need the much cooler climate and lower yields of the Northern Rhone to shine most of the time. Happily, we found a decently priced exception. While this is certainly from a warmer climate, the fruit is from very low yielding vines with an average age of fifty years, for extra concentration and complexity. There is also a lot of limestone in the vineyard giving great finesse.

The juice is fermented in large (400litre) barrels, not all new, to add a bit of weight and spice and the result is peach and apricot flavours with a fine, spicy, mineral edge and lovely balance.

Good With

Dishes flavoured with saffron or rosemary, crab and lobster, mildly spiced, creamy curries