Les Clos Perdus Le Blanc 2011
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It was during a journey to the Languedoc to visit a friend in 2002, that they were inspired by the majesty of the old vines, the vast range of grape varieties, soils, climate and terrain.
They felt that the full expression and potential of some of the regions’ many terroirs were yet to be realized, so in 2003 with Hugo Stewart we started Les Clos Perdus with 1.5 hectares of vines in the Corbières Maritime.
They hoped that if they encouraged the roots of the vines to dig deep, and improved the diversity of life within the soil, we would begin to see in the wines an expression of terroir that would tell us how to proceed. In the following year they acquired more small parcels in the High Corbières hills and on the schistose slopes of the Agly Valley.
There are hundreds of white grape varieties grown throughout the world. Some are indigenous specialties capable of producing excellent single varietal wines. Each has its own distinct viticultural characteristics, as well as aroma and flavor profiles.
French wine is nearly synonymous with fine wine and all things epicurean, France has a culture of wine production and consumption that is deeply rooted in tradition. Many of the world’s most beloved grape varieties originated here, as did the concept of “terroir”—soil type, elevation, slope and mesoclimate combine to produce resulting wines that convey a sense of place. Accordingly, most French wine is labeled by geographical location, rather than grape variety. So a general understaning of which grapes correspond to which regions can be helpful in navigating all of the types of French wine. Some of the greatest wine regions in the world are here, including Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhône and Champagne, but each part of the country has its own specialties and strengths.
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the king and queen of Burgundy, producing elegant French red and white wines with great acidity, the finest examples of which can age for decades. The same two grapes, along with Pinot Meunier, are used to make Champagne.
Of comparable renown is Bordeaux, focused on bold, structured red blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc including sometimes a small amount of Petit Verdot or Malbec. The primary white varieties of Bordeaux are Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.
The northern Rhône Valley is responsible for single-varietal Syrah, while the south specializes in Grenache blends; Rhône's main white variety is Viognier.
Most of these grape varieties are planted throughout the country and beyond, extending their influence into other parts of Europe and New World appellations.