Étoile
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Winery Origin Vintage Style Varietal Price Current Stock |
Olivier & Roland Gessler Côtes de Gascogne, France 2009 White Colombard/Ugni Blanc/Gros Manseng £9.95 |
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This wine appears in the following casesEveryday Indulgences - White (case of 6) |
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Story
Gascony is south west France personified. Les Trois Mousquetaires, Cyrano de Bergerac, Asterix (yes really). The home of indulgent fois gras, fiery Armagnac, bone-crunching rugby forwards … and the most delicious grape varieties in the world (the fact is, many of the world’s best varieties can be traced back to the south-west).
Olivier and Roland run one of the finest domains in this historic region with an immaculate estate and fastidious high-plateau vineyards. They also harvest at considerably lower yields than their neighbours, so we can reap the rewards of better weight and complexity in the wine.
Taste
Their principal white grapes (the well-balanced double-act of Colombard and Ugni Blanc) feature in some of the world’s most exclusive Cognac and Armagnac eaux de vie, but here they’re blended with Gros Manseng to make Étoile. This is a classic Everyday Indulgence; sensual passion fruit, zingy Sauvignon-like aromas, and an enticing spiced ginger finish.
Serve
Chilled at 10-11°.
Match
Seafood or chicken salads, pasta with pesto, grilled fish, Mediterranean mezze or Spanish tapas. But really “Lou jambou de partout que le bou” as they say in Occitan – roughly “There’s nothing that doesn’t work with ham”. Of course they mean the King of Ham, Jambon de Bayonne.
Avoid
Mentioning Cognac or Stade Francais in certain parts of Gascony. They’re a fierce bunch, when provoked. Ask the Romans.
Quote
Properly upbeat south-west stuff; want to head down there for Toulouse-Wasps?
Angus Macnab-Collins
Head Sommelier
The Lanesborough, Knightsbridge