With the clocks having moved forward, and Spring almost here, then the thought of charcoal cooking wonderfully fresh fish seems rather appealing, particularly when combined with a deliciously lively white wine.
A white from the Lanquedoc recently popped up. Made by one of the stars of the Northern Rhône, Domaine Rene Rostaing, it seemed to posses a zesty vibrance that had the hallmarks of a wine that would be enthusiastically enjoyed this summer.
Established in the 70s, Domaine Rostaing is a relatively young estate, with 11 hectares of vines covering 30 parcels in Côte-Rôtie, the wines made at this estate are superb examples of the finesse that can be produced from this appellation. René handed over the reins to his son, Pierre, in 2015 who is following the same pursuit of quality as his father.
During the late 1990s René acquired a property, Puech Chaud, in the Côteaux de Languedoc, close to Nîmes. It is now known as Puech Noble and the cooler altitude of the estate enables wines to be produced with a fresher resonance than usually found this far south.
The white Puech Noble, predominantly made from the Grenache Blanc, with a small percentage of both Vermentino and Viognier, it is an enticing combination that is captivating and very enjoyable. White fruits on the nose with a touch of melon, it has an intriguing combination of citrus, grapefruit, and pear on the palate with hints of peaches and very light honey tones. Superbly balanced acidity and fruit that are precise, structured, and dry.
Perched outside under a blue sky with the BBQ gently preparing the seabass, sardines, prawns and monkfish, or crafting the rich chicken salad in the kitchen, this will slip down remarkably easily this summer.
It seems to be available from a number of merchants, but Berrys is the best-value:
Domaine Puech Noble Languedoc Blanc 2021 - £22.50
