Description

ABOUT THE PRODUCER:
Château de Pinet is the only Château to be connected to Pinet. Its history dates back to the 18th century, when a family of wine merchants became landowners, as a small vineyard plot in Pinet which was owned by women became part of a marriage dowry. Château de Pinet is today once again in the hands of women, two Countesses, after two hundred and fifty years of heritage from father to son. Simonne has taken over from her father Jacques Gaujal and has been joined by her daughter Anne-Virginie, a pharmacist-oenologist. Together they use their feminine touch to produce classic Picpoul de Pinet, which is vibrant and fresh with delicious, saline minerality.

THE VINTAGE:
In most of the Languedoc the 2023 growing season started well, with an average winter, dry in some places but sufficient rainfall in others and no damaging frosts. Rainfall in May and June required vigilance in the vineyards amid disease pressure in the humid climate. Much of the region experienced extreme drought during the summer months and a four-day heatwave starting on 20th August brought temperatures of 43°C and resulted in an early harvest with smaller berries producing concentrated juice.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD:
The estate vineyard is planted in the AOP of Picpoul de Pinet, just a stone’s throw from the Étang de Thau. This large lagoon influences the climate by contributing to cooler evenings and nights and by depositing humidity onto the vine leaves, which translates into vibrant freshness in the wine. The vineyard sits upon undulating topography with clay-limestone soils, rich in pockets of limestone with fossils and oyster shells from the proximity of the sea. The Piquepoul vines are sustainably cultivated and Château de Pinet holds the Haute Valeur Environmentale (HVE) certification, which officially recognises the environmental performance of winegrowers, including biodiversity conservation, plant protection strategies, managed fertiliser use and water resource management.

THE WINEMAKING PROCESS:
The grapes were immediately pressed and the must was chilled and fermented at cool temperatures in stainless steel vats, with selected yeasts. The must underwent a long, slow cool fermentation to showcase the aromatic, pure fruit flavours and retain the characteristic freshness of this style.

OUR TASTING NOTES:
A refreshing and dry Picpoul de Pinet, with tangy citrus, grapefruit and saline notes through to a lip-smacking finish.

GRAPE VARIETY:
Piquepoul 100%.