La Caisse is a charming and delightfully fresh wine from Gascogny,  All wrapped up under a playful label design to appeal to a wide audience of wine lovers.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Offering up intense floral aromas of ripe peach, citrus and green apple.

Palate

The palate is bright, with a textural touch coming from the time on lees, providing balance to the vivid, racy acidity.

Producer

Created using the traditional varieties of Ugni Blanc and Colombard by Chief Winemaker Frédéric Garrabou. Gascogny in the southwest of France covers a large area between Bordeaux and the Spanish border. It is also home to some of France’s oldest vineyards. An area of stunning scenery, medieval architecture and a strong gastronomic tradition. Wines of the region are often classified as IGP Cotes de Gascogne, yet in this instance ‘La Caisse’ is under the broader designation of Vin de France, which offers more flexibility in terms of permitted grape varieties and geographical limits.

Production

The grapes are harvested separately early in the season, preserving the freshness of the berries. Prior fermentation, the grapes undergo a cold maceration to extract primary aromas. After a gentle pressing, the must is cold settled meticulously. The fermentation is then led at a cool controlled temperature (16/18°C). After clarification, the wine is blended and aged for five months on its fine lees, increasing the smoothness of the texture.

A delightful, fresh, and crisp example of Sauvignon Blanc.

Tasting Notes

Bright lemon-green in colour. Intense and fruity, with lovely aromas of green apple and grapefruit. Very refreshing on the palate

Viticulture

Gascony is both wild and beautiful all at the same time... With its rolling countryside dotted with maritime pine and cypress trees, its luxurious vineyards and medieval hilltop towns, the area is one of the most preserved French treasures. Home to viticulture since Roman times, the IGP Côtes de Gascogne shares the same area of production as the Armagnac appellation. Gascony is also famous for its rich gastronomy and its “douceur de vivre” or easy-living atmosphere. The Colombard and Sauvignon Blanc grapes are predominantly produced in the Côte de Gascogne area of the South-West of France. The region has a fantastic reputation for fresh white wines. Capable of adapting to the hot climate, it provides nice acidity with lovely flavours. The resulting wines are crisp and fresh, with very intense aromas of lime, nectarine and grapefruit.

Production

The winemaking process is designed to preserve freshness and to enhance the aromatic potential of the wine. The berries are harvested at night, when temperatures are low, as soon as they have reached optimal maturity. The crop is then pneumatically pressed in order to extract only the premium juices. The fermentation process is carried out at a low temperature to preserve aromatic intensity. All these steps create a fragrant and refreshing white wine!

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes

'This is an interesting wee find from a very good wine co-operative in the s of France. Dry, fresh and crisp with a dollop of citric & tropical fruit giving great mouthfeel, complexity and balance without breaking the bank. I reckon this will become a successful crowd pleaser for our community - so get your order in quick as stocks are limited - so says the wine doctor.

 A delightful easy drinking little number - perfect with any seafood or chicken dish - or salads.'  November 2024