Wine Note
Loved & Found Terret Blanc 2023 (Waitrose £8.99).
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is one of the great wines of France. It’s famous because of its quality and because producers can use up to thirteen different grape varieties to make it. One of them is Terret Noir. Years ago, a white mutation, Terret Blanc, ended up in the obscurity of the lagoon of Thau near the Mediterranean between Montpellier and Béziers and was largely forgotten.
Terret Blanc
Now, thanks to local producers Calmel & Joseph and to Waitrose, Terret Blanc has become known again.
With any obscure variety, we must ask ourselves if we’re just drinking it because of its rarity. We should also ask if it is worth rediscovering. This one definitely is.
The nose is fruity and aromatic, reminiscent of Muscat or Argentinian Torrontes. It’s very refreshing with hints of orange and lemon and has an attractive mineral finish.
Waitrose wine buyer Rebecca Hull MW says that this is one of “the wines that we believe have the potential to be the popular varieties of the future.” Try it for yourself with seafood or white meat and enjoying getting in on the start of the Terret Blanc bandwagon.
John Freeland (u3a Wine Tasting Group)
(with thanks to the editor for finding this wine and presenting it at a u3a tasting)
Kibworth & Smeeton WI
