I pride myself in locating (or constantly trying to locate) high quality wines that deliver good value. Often I feel a certain sense of accomplishment when I locate these wines and share them with others so that everyone can enjoy a quality wine at a good price. In the case of the lovely Seigneurie de Peyrat Classique Blanc 2010 (PLCB code: 32430 $7.99), I can take no credit whatsoever – this wine was suggested to me by not just one, but TWO of my good friends on separate occasions. Since I typically agree with their palates and wine opinions, I had to try this white. This is a very nice wine and a good value to boot! The blend of Colombard and Vermentino initially struck me as unusual since Vermentino is typically an Italian grape and Colombard is typically grown in Southern France (incidentally it is the main grape used for Cognac as well). But then I discovered that Vermentino is actually quite common in Southern France under the original French name of “French Rolle”, and nowadays the Italian name of Vermentino is generally in use. With that bit of knowledge combined with the facts that both grapes thrive in hot growing conditions, and both have complimentary characteristics, the combination actually makes sense – and in this case works well. Seigneurie de Payrat is located in the Southern French region of Languedoc-Roussillon, a region famous for producing vast amounts of good quality table wines and a few special ones. For comparison, Languedoc-Roussillon is covered by three times as many vineyards as the more famous Bordeaux region, so it should not surprise us that a nice wine like this should reach our shores. After pouring the white, I notice the nose is floral with some elements of peach and citrus. Pouring white wines ice cold is a common practice (and a good one in many cases) but the Peyrat Blanc benefits from a moment or two in the glass warming up a few degrees – as the wine warms slightly the aromatics open up and make the wine more interesting and complex. All of this contributes to displaying the peach and floral fruit flavors with a lush mouth feel, and finishes with a touch of citrus flavors and grip. This wine is a solid, flavorful table white that can be sipped alone, or combined with food – we should all have on hand for the summer months!
Wine and Cheese Suggestion: David B. is one of the friends who originally suggested this wine to me. His friends often refer to him as a ‘cheese-ist’, ‘cheeseologist’, ‘cheese-aholic’ and other fun names… Undeterred by our teasing, David featured this Peyrat Classique Blanc in a wine and cheese tasting and reports that many people found the cheese (Lou Bergier Pichin, a creamy cheese described as French cheese made in Italy using Portuguese techniques) and Seigneurie de Peyrat Classique Blanc to be their favorite combination of the event. I am now on a mission to find the cheese and try it with Seigneurie de Peyrat Classique Blanc 2010 – hope you will try it too!
Jack Brice Wine 