The first commercial release of this white variety in Australia from one of the trailblazers in alternative varieties, Coriole in McLaren Vale. The winery had bragging rights when it planted Australia's first Sangiovese in 1985 and now adds another string to its bow.
Picpoul de Pinet has its own Appellation, the white wine only cru of the Languedoc region and holds a rare status in France: a varietal-labelled wine ! Picpoul (Blanc) is one of the lucky thirteen permitted varieties in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, the name translating as 'lip-stinger' in the local Occitan language owing to its high natural acid content. So, the variety has it going on and now, it's our turn to get our lips stung !
This release is pale, clear yellow with greenish
highlights.
Lifted aromas of lemon blossom,
green leaves, pear and a subtle crushed rock minerality. Riesling-like aromatics on the nose.
Adding interest to those aromatics was some suggestion
of salty sea air, perhaps a reflection of the maritime climate of the grape's origins in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France.
Delicate and juicy palate with a
lemony, peppery zing. Does in fact have some 'lip-sting' to it but in a subtle, lean sort of way. Dry, crisp with a little briny action going on too. Although not a complex wine, there's a lingering brightness and freshness that is attractive. On the light-side of medium-weight with an aftertaste of apple skin and gentle minerality. Think a cross between a crisp Riesling and a textural Marsanne and you wouldn't be far off. A good find that appears to be well-suited to its new McLaren Vale environs.
Fascinating to watch how this first release Picpoul develops especially after having received a bronze medal at the recent AAVWS in the other white aromatic light to medium-bodied variety class.
Limited amounts at the cellar door and if you're lucky, a perfect 'go to' wine for summer seafood dishes.
Source: Sample. ABV:
12.0%. Closure: Screw Cap. Price: $25.00. Rating: 91 Points.
Used as a blending component with Marsanne and Viognier since 1998, this is Tahbilk's first varietal release of Roussanne.
