2019 Bois d’Arlène “La Comtesse” Blanc

2019 Bois d’Arlène “La Comtesse” Blanc

Grapes: 40% Vermentino (Rolle), 40% Viognier, 20% Picquepoul

ABV: 13%

Region: Vacqueyras, Southern Rhône Valley, France

Winemaker: Phillipe Bernard

Viniculture: Organic, hand-harvested 

Winemaking: A short skin-on maceration during pressing, then fermentation with wild yeast with occasional lees stirring. No malolactic fermentation takes place.

“seaside warmth in its bones”

Bois d’Arlène is a producer that Crunchy Red Fruit has worked with before. Namely, their powerful and savory reds coming from the Vacqueyras region of the Southern Rhône valley. Bois d’Arlène is an organic vineyard and winery based in the village of Sarrians, right outside of Vacqueyras. They bought the vineyard and began organic conversions in 2013, then hired Phillipe Bernard, an all-star French winemaker.

Vacqueyras is usually known for its reds, but it doesn’t mean that whites are out of the question. Much like Châteauneuf-du-Pape down the road, the whites can be studies in texture, richness and weight. It’s rare to see a cuvée like this one where one of the main grapes is Vermentino, also called Rolle in other parts of southern France. Vermentino and the Viognier/Picquepoul it’s blended with do extremely well in warm Mediterranean climates.

This La Comtesse blanc carries seaside warmth in its bones. A nose of pear syrup, honeysuckle, beeswax and blanched almonds, followed by a palate of fresh apricot, white peach, and thyme oil. Pair this with freshwater fish, or halibut. Something with texture and weight.