While browsing at one of my favorite shops...


1999 Clos Sainte-Pauline Clairette du Languedoc Sus Castel - France,
Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Clairette du Languedoc (8/15/2006)

Presented to me blind as something to sip on while I browsed one of my
favorite wine shops. The proprietor is good about showing me
interesting things and trying to trick me. This is a deep yellow,
heading to gold color with a bit of visible richness. One whiff of the
nose and I'm immediately thinking mature Loire chenin blanc (slight
but pleasant oxidation, sweet baking apples, some lanolin). I could not
have been more wrong, and that was evident as soon as I took the first
sip. Rich and round in the mouth, balanced but without the vibrant
acidity I would have expected from Loire chenin. Fruit on the palate is
more ripe apple, macerated white grapes, a little melon. Persistent
finish shows peach and almond. Made predominantly from grenache blanc
in an intentionally oxidative style, it was enjoyable as a novelty but
I'm having a hard time imagining how I would match it with food. Also
having a hard time imagining how they were allowed to use the
"Clairette" appellation, given composition.

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