DOMAINE PIQUE-BASSE L'ATOUT DU PIQUE ROAIX
Single vineyard Grenache Blanc from the Southern Rhône. 97% of the Roaix appellation output is red, so this white is very rare and very good.
Roaix, Southern Rhône
2019
13.5% ABV
100% Grenache Blanc
75cl
£22.95
Price includes VAT
Tasting notes:
'A Chateauneuf in all but name' - Jancis Robinson
An attractive white, creamy smooth with lots of sunny fruits, nectarine, apricot and touches of lemon flesh. The oak in the winemaking leaves a hint of vanilla, with far more influence on the texture. Supple, medium bodied and very long lasting on the finish.
About the wine:
This cuvée is produced from a single plot of white grenache, which is very rare given the predominance of red wines in the vineyards around Roaix. The vines are 45 years old and yield 35 hectolitres per hectare. The winemaking period is split into two equal parts, one in large barrels and the other in stainless steel tanks. After a long fermentation of 3 months, the wine is matured on the lees without stirring.
About the producer:
The history of the Domaine Pique-Basse dates back to Olivier Tropet’s grandparents and great-grandparents, who were already growing vines and fruit trees on the estate at the beginning of the twentieth century. The name Pique-Basse is inspired by the local name of this area, ‘piquebas’, which roughly translates as ‘low podium’. And, indeed, a number of the plots situated around the cellar are slightly raised, while being part of the Roaix plain.
The Domaine spans a dozen hectares of vines surrounding the property, mainly on the Roaix and Rasteau hill slopes. The wines are produced in the ‘Côtes du Rhône Villages Roaix’ AOP (Protected Designation of Origin), in red, white, and rosé wines, as well as the Cru Rasteau vintage red wine.
Since 2009, the vines are tended according to organic growing principles, and the vines and winemaking process are certified by Ecocert. Inspired by his love of the earth, Olivier Tropet spent nearly a decade converting his vineyard to organic agriculture before obtaining the certification. So he cultivates his vines the natural way, with no weed killers or chemical fertilizers, and the grapes are harvested by hand. With simplicity and humility, he respects his estate, his vines, and his history.
