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MILLESIME BIO 2010 – EXTRA – CLAIRETTE DE BELLEGARDE
In the Netherlands, but also in all touristic places at the Languedoc sea-side, the chance is huge that if you ask for a wine match with fish, sea-shells or crustaceans, you will get the advice to buy a glass or bottle of … picpoul de Pinet. Well, the most picpoul de Pinet that I tasted, also with sea-food, are drinkable, some are even pretty enjoyable. The status of this wine is however pushed by a kind of trendy hype, much more than by the intrinsic quality and gastronomic versatility of the wine itself. I have been looking quite a while for alternative wines, crispy and elegant, fresh and fruity, mineral and fatty together, with a great feeling for see-food, but also for white meat, poultry and … nice cheese. Oh, and I nearly forgot, for an acceptable price… (I am an honest wine writer, you know, I will never get rich… but I still want to enjoy my meals!)
At last,
EUREKA…
I found it!
It comes from a tiny AOP in the Languedoc, not far from the old Roman city of Nîmes. It is made of an old grape varietal, common to the Provence, Rhône and Languedoc… the Clairette. The grape itself is not really appealing, like a sylvaner/silvaner, chardonnay, or chasselas. It gets its great dimension on a great terroir, with organic or even better biodynamic viticulture, using neutral or even better indigenous yeast, little SO2, fermenting and aging on lees, not too much (new) oak…
The terroir of Bellegarde is perfect, transcending the grape varietal into a round, fatty structure, complementing the natural freshness and fruit of the clairette. The clairette de Bellegarde made by Jerôme Chardon and his wife Dominique is just …
PERFECT!
This is the wine I was looking for since such a long time. Working biodynamic gives even more natural freshness and minerality, bringing the wine to quasi celestial mood…
I LOVE IT!
There is only one problem, a big problem… No, surely not the price, it costs less than € 10,- at the domain… The availability is the huge problem! Much too little quantities produced for the demand! And of course, the better local restaurants, the clever local and French retailers and connoisseurs do know the address… Not much left for export…
You might find it in Japan (Le Vin Nature), USA (Douglas Polaner Selections, NY), Switzerland (Carment Vin), Belgium (Wijnfolie in Aalter, Le Millésime in Sourbroudt) or in the Netherlands (De Wijnvriend in Haarlem).
If you happen to see some bottles of
DOMAINE TERRE DES CHARDONS
CLAIRETTE DE BELLEGARDE BLANC SEC
Do not hesitate,
BUY IT!
And
ENJOY!
(of course, always with moderation)
By the way, they do produce as well some nice reds, Costières de Nîmes, in three categories: syrah, more syrah, or even more syrah, completed by grenache. The basic 60% syrah Bien Luné is nearly already sold out when it is released, the middle-range Marginal with 80% syrah will cost about € 10,00 and the 90% syrah Discret should cost about € 12,00 … (consumer prices, all-in, at the domain, in France)
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TERRE DES CHARDONS
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JERÔME & DOMINIQUE CHARDON
Domaine Ste Marie des Costières
30127 Bellegarde
Tél : +33 (0)4 66 70 02 51
fax: +33 (0)4 66 70 17 28
@ : tdchardons@yahoo.fr
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