The Vacqueyras blanc 2023 from d'Ouréa impressively demonstrates how elegant, fresh and profound white Southern Rhône blends from organic-biodynamic viticulture can be.
Bottler: Domaine d'Ouréa, Fontbonne, 84190 Vacqueyras / France
In the glass
Colour
Intense golden yellow
Nose
Fragrant and sensual with notes of orange zest, quince, pear and Cox Apple, backed by nuances of blossom, almonds and nuts
Palate
Elegant and creamy on the palate, combining warm fruit with kumquat, subtle honeyed sweetness, piquant zest and a fine minerality
Character
Ripe, complex and distinctly Alpine in character, with an exciting balance between Southern fruit and cool freshness
Pairing
Pairs brilliantly with pan-fried sea fish, white poultry in a cream sauce, or creamy soft cheeses
Notes
Single vineyard site with blue and yellow clay; hand-harvested whole bunches, spontaneous fermentation and six months of maturation in concrete tanks
Tasting note
Colour & Appearance
An intense golden yellow in the glass.
Nose
On the nose, this white Southern Rhône representative presents itself as fragrant and sensual. Aromas of fresh orange zest, white flowers, juicy pear, Cox Orange apple and quince emerge, underpinned by subtle notes of hazelnuts and almonds.
Palate
On the palate, the wine appears elegant with a creamy texture. The ripe fruit combines with accents of kumquat, a touch of honey as well as savoury zest and spices. The ripe fruit of the South meets a fine, balancing minerality.
Terroir & Origin
The grapes come from an east-facing parcel of just 0.3 hectares planted on blue and yellow clay. Adrien Roustan, who has been farming the estate biodynamically since 2020, benefits from cool influences in his vineyards in the shadow of the Dentelles de Montmirail, which preserve the wine’s freshness despite the southern sun.
Grape Variety & Vinification
A blend of 80% Clairette and 20% Bourboulenc from vines planted in 2011. Following hand-harvesting, the whole bunches were directly pressed and wild-fermented. Ageing took place for six months exclusively in concrete tanks – without the use of new oak and with only a homeopathic dose of sulphur.
Food Pairings
Pairs brilliantly with pan-fried sea fish, citrus ceviche, poultry in cream sauce or mature soft cheeses.
Key Features
A rare white Vacqueyras that brings the unvarnished, authentic texture of the traditional grape varieties Clairette and Bourboulenc to the glass through whole-bunch pressing and pure concrete ageing.
