Calmel & Joseph Villa Blanche Picpoul de Pinet 2022
93 POINTS: Wine Direct Tasting Team
90 POINTS: La Revue du Vin de France
"A grape variety that's well worth investigating if you haven't already. Underappreciated and usually great value for money, Picpoul makes an excellent change from Sauvignon Blanc, with plenty of crisp acidity and citrus fruit. Zesty, refreshing green apple notes with a slight background hint of salinity make it ideal with seafood or as an aperitif to get you hungry before dinner time."
-Wine Direct Tasting Team
"Brilliant yellow with green reflections, and a characteristically Picpoul nose of acacia flowers and broom with citrus notes emerging before finishing on mint, star anise and marine, iodized notes. Very fresh and smooth in the mouth, opening on exotic fruit such as mango, papaya and pineapple and finishing with a lightly lemony, mineral, salinity. An excellent Picpoul for drinking as an aperitif or at table with all seafood and fish, or cheese. A reminder (contrary to popular belief) that this grape variety develops very well over time, and will only gain in complexity after one or two years in bottle."
- Winemakers Notes
Founded in 1995, Calmel & Joseph is a maison de négoce specializing in Languedoc-Roussillon wines from private wineries from across the region. Convinced of the extraordinary potential of this region, oenologist, Laurent Calmel, and Jerome Joseph work together on the vinification, blending and ageing of wines with the common purpose of demonstrating the little known yet unique quality of these Mediterranean terroirs. The Villa Blanche range is a total find and produces some of the best value.
ABV: 13%