Vignobles Canet Picpoul de Pinet 2019

“Brilliant value and zinging with lemony freshness … if you like white wine, you’ll love Picpoul de Pinet.”
– Top critic Olly Smith

Picpoul (pronounced ‘peek-pool’) is a white grape that grows in southern France’s Languedoc. And most unusually for France, it has its own appellation – Picpoul de Pinet AOC – located right near the seaside on the sunny Mediterranean coast. It takes its name from the nearby village of Pinet, and the region stretches from the ancient Roman village of Pézenas towards the fishing port of Sète on the coast.

Best-selling wine writer Oz Clarke says the name Picpoul means ‘lipstinger’ (which is hard to imagine for such a mild-mannered white), while locals claim it refers to the habit of local chickens (‘poules’) pecking fallen grapes off the ground. Either way, this delicious example is made under the watchful eye of Château Canet, one of the most respected domaines in the nearby Minervois.

So what can you expect in the glass? Back to top critic Olly Smith: “Picpoul is the south of France’s answer to northern French Muscadet with its similarly lemony zing but sometimes also with a subtle floral whiff.” Your exclusive from Château Canet is deliciously crisp, with pear and peach aromas, followed by zippy citrus flavors on the palate. Not surprisingly, given the vineyard’s proximity to the Mediterranean, it makes a refreshing accompaniment to fish (raw, grilled, or prepared in a light sauce).

Catch it while you can – very few cases imported.