Languedoc-Roussillon Whites Case

A dry, herby white from the Pic Saint-Loup area. Marsanne and roussanne provide the base but a splash of vermentino marks the wine with its fragrant, ripe-fruit flavours. Refreshing, savoury and flavoursome.

Dry, clean and fruity with a salty, lemony tang, this is a delicious blend of bourboulenc, a southern French variety which, according to the ancients, gave wisdom to all who drank of it, here with grenache blanc and roussanne in support. Saltiness and humid sea breezes are everywhere here, which is just as well as it rarely rains. Chateau d'Anglès was one of the winners of our 2024 Climate & Nature fund and are one of our Wine Society Pioneers for their approach to sustainable production and their impressively holistic approach to agroecology and soil health. Over the next three years they aim to adopt a number of different regenerative farming practices including, planting 950 trees, introducing 300 sheep to winter graze the vineyards and installing 80 beehives together with local partners. The Fabre family minimise water use on the hot Languedoc, watering only when allowed with collected rainwater and underground drip irrigation that uses soil sensors to monitor conditions. They never till the soil to leave microbial and invertebrate life undisturbed and cover cropping is grasses from the wheat and corn families to open up the soil to rainfall. They don’t mow but roll the grasses to flatten them. Birds are encouraged, helped by pesticides never being used, and to stop any pests from multiplying they employ sexual confusion techniques on the critters! They are delighted to say that wildlife is coming back before their eyes, with partridges, hares and butterflies all seen regularly. What a joy and a vindication.

A mouthwatering, fresh, barrel-aged chardonnay from a mountainous area near Limoux. Like its pinot noir sibling, this displays more than a passing resemblance to a Burgundy, but at a fraction of the price. Enjoy with simple roast chicken or mushroom stroganoff.

Distinctive, full-flavoured, herby white from some of the most remarkably steep vineyards in France. A blend of mostly grenache, aged in oak, this has persistent flavours of wild herbs and citrus with a salty twist and freshness and finesse. Perfect with a dish of sardines or anchovies.

Classy dry white from the Roussillon made using a majority of grenache blanc, with macabeu and vermentino in support. Savoury, herby, complex and long, the wine reveals almost Burgundian character, with just a hint of oak on the finish.

A new wine from Claude Jourdan, this has benefitted from extended yeast lees contact, adding depth of flavour and richness. It reveals notes of lemon and grapefruit with a fresh backbone of acidity, and is absolutely perfect with fish and seafood.