Blandine Le Blanc, Cote de Gascogne IGP (Pascal Verhaeghe)

€15,50

Subdued nose, with noticeable sea influence, discreet but precise flavours of citrus and white flowers - the palate is dry, fresh and citrusy - balanced with neat cleansing acidity and saline notes - very well made, clearly from honest juice, vibrant and delicate.

Blandine Le Blanc is the latest release from the Verhaeghe Brothers. From low yielding vineyards spread around the Gers department, this is a blend of Colombard 50% Ugni Blanc 40% and Sauvignon Blanc 10%. The philosophy of hard work in the vineyard and light hand in the winery is truly respected here, gentle pressing and low extraction gave the wine delicious and precise fruity notes as well as an authentic French South West character.


CHÂTEAU DU CÈDRE, Vire sur Lot - Biodynamic
Pascal and Jean-Marc Verhaeghe form one of the most passionate, hard-working and skilled team of winegrowers we have ever come across. The work of Jean-Marc consists of growing, biodynamically close-to-perfect grapes in the vineyards, while Pascal meticulously transforms these grapes into arguably, the greatest Malbec wines to be found anywhere.
The 27-ha vineyard is planted on 3 parcels, the first consists of calcareous-clay soils, very stony on the surface, the other two are covered with rolled stones and the subsoils are made of layers of sands with trace of iron followed by silica and clay.
Numerous passages are made in the vineyard to ensure the perfect health, quality and ripeness of the grapes, and all the work is carried by hand as, since 1992, no chemicals have been used. The research of quality is pushed so far that almost each vine receives a special attention.
In the winery, Pascal vinifies the harvest in tanks and foudres, the wines are then matured in 225l or 500l barrels. The use of oak is carefully weighted, each vintage requires different actions, the aim is to produce Burgundy-type wines, that reflects both their terroir and their specific vintage.
Over the years, Pascal has made numerous trials and innovations in order to unleash the ultimate potential of Malbec grapes grown on the soils of Cahors, and the last few vintages have brought Château du Cedre up amongst the very best wineries of the World.

Decanter February 2012 ‘Top 10 French Estate for value'