France
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2018 Picpoul, Baron de Badassière
BA603B18
Taste Notes:
100% Picpoul. A youthful Picpoul with fresh, crisp apple and a touch of citrus on the nose. No oak and early bottling helps retain freshness and delicate aromatics. This wine is pale lemon in colour with a youthful rim. On the nose, it has aromas of citrus fruit, grapefruit, lemon and lime, and floral notes. On the palate, it has attractive weight, with a good balance of zesty acidity and minerality, as well as a touch of saltiness on the finish.
Vegetarian& Vegan
Vineyard:
The grapes for this wine come from selected vineyards around the Etang de Thau, planted on clay and limestone soils.
Vinification:
The grapes arrived in the winery in the early morning and were macerated on the skins for a few hours, then pressed by pneumatic press. The must was cold settled for 48 hours and then fermented at a controlled temperature of 15 °C for 16 days. No oak was used and the wine was bottled early to retain freshness and delicate aromatics.
Producer:
Baron de Badassière is from the Picpoul de Pinet region of the Languedoc, near the coast of the south of France. The name of the wine refers to the Badassière vineyard which lies near the small town of Pomérols. In the 18th century, the vineyard belonged to Baron Charles Emmanuel, a colourful character who was rumoured to be the illegitimate son of King Louis XV. The wines are made exclusively for Liberty Wines by New Zealand winemaker Graeme Paul, with consultant Matt Thomson, at the Cave de Pomérols cooperative where the Vignes de L'Eglise range is also produced.
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Sauvignon "A Peu Pres"
0505901
A stunning little gem from David Maudry, whose family have a long old history of wine production in Tracy-Sur-Loire. This Sauvignon Blanc comes from young vines directly next to their Pouilly-Fumé vineyard. Whilst this vineyard remains unclassified, the soils and aspect are the same, indeed the wine tastes almost identical (at a fraction of the price)... lots of that struck-flint note we all love in Pouilly-Fumé, and then a nice elegance and gentle tang.
Seeing Pouilly-Fumé (and Sancerre) getting rather out of reach price-wise this was an exciting find.
The name, ‘À Peu Près’, means ‘as good as’ (as good as Pouilly Fumé) and we were delighted to have this wine on our list.
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Quincy, Domaine du Tremblay, Vieilles Vignes
Quincy is a small and typically paysan village serviced by a single lousy bar and a boulangerie with little else (apart from the obvious opportunity to taste with growers) to attract the casual visitor. In fact one wonders why, when the appellation was created in 1936, that it wasn’t christened after the neighbouring commune of Brinay which at least exudes some character and draws in tourists who come to admire the 12th Century frescos in its pretty little church.
This wine is made from vines that our 30-50 years & is a beautiful expression of Sauvignon Blanc with citrus aromas on the nose, particularly grapefruit, alongside menthol, pepper, acacia and white flowers. An elegant combination of fruit and freshness on the palate.
Should be opened within 5 years to enjoy the freshness and fruitiness of Sauvignon blanc. But you can forget
it in your cellar for a little longer. Vertical tastings proved that white Loire wines can be kept up to 10 years.To enjoy with foie gras or lobster. This wine is also a nice aperitif!
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Saumur Blanc 'La Jouvencelle' Domaine de Rocheville
The Saumur Champigny appellation is one of the best-known Loire wines. Protected on the south-east by the forest of Fontevraud, by the Loire on the north-east and by the Thouet on the west, it enjoys the lowest rainfall in the region, with an average of 600mm per annum. By comparison, Angers, which is 40km away, has 850 mm p.a. and Cholet, 60km away, has an average annual rainfall of 950mm.
Domaine de Rocheville is one of the latest vineyards to be created in the Saumur Champigny appellation. Philippe Porché, a wine enthusiast, had been looking for a vineyard in this area for years: after several trials. He finally discovered the land in Parnay, where he based Domaine de Rocheville, at the end of 2004. The first grapes were harvested in 2005, thanks to the help of his wife, Agnes, and JeromeCallet, a young soil specialist. Since then they have moved on with a succession of wines, a wider experience, a sharper philosophy, and their reputation and fame have steadily increased.
La Jouvencelle is a lively and refreshing Saumur white wine, an elixir of youth!
Colour combining delicate nuances of green and gold. Tropical and citrus fruit aromas and floral notes with a hint of vanilla. A very well-balanced wine, with a suave, discreet attack and an elegant, fresh and very fruity finish in the mouth.
100% Chenin Blanc, from a special part of the vineyard on sandy clay soil.. South-south-west exposition.
The grapes are gently pressed in a pneumatic press, then the juice is put into large barrels for the alcoholic fermentation. The Jouvencelle is stirred regularly if necessary, so the juice is enhanced by the fine lees. Ageing from 6 to 9 months depending on the vintage, to get the best from the Chenin’s freshness and fruit.
WINEMAKER’S ADVICE:
Perfect as an aperitif, the Jouvencelle goes very well with grilled fish, fried prawns, Blanquette of veal and choucroute, and blue cheese and goats’ cheese. Serve cold, between 12° and 14°C
Delicious when it is young, the Jouvencelle will retain its freshness for nearly 10 years in the cellar.
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Domaine Fernand Engel, Pinot Blanc Reserve
This is a delightful Pinot Blanc with intense fruit forward nose, with a youthful expression of peach, quince and vanilla. Fresh and soft on the palate. A very delicate rounded wine with discrete, refined acidity and a persistent fruit finish.
Certified organic and vegan friendly, it's perfect when paired with onion tart, pâtés, chicken vol-au-vent, soufflés with cheese or potatoes and
green vegetables.Since 2001, the family's land has been managed exclusively based on organic farming methods.Since 2012, they have been certified organic and now Fernand Engel is the largest organic estate in Alsace. The company is known for its consistent commitment to respect nature.
The diversity of the soils and the variability of the climate give Alsatian wines an eminently complex dimension, making each vintage a new challenge. Thanks to their experience and expertise, they have understood that it is by respecting the raw material, by listening to it, that they will guide the genesis of the wine as naturally and as faithfully as possible. Manipulation is limited and each wine is a reflection of its terroir.
