Winemaker Notes
The 2024 vintage of Souleil Vin de Bonté Le Blanc is lean, citrus-driven, and electric with acidity. Star-bright in the glass, this lively blend of Piquepoul and Ugni Blanc opens with herbaceous notes of grapefruit and ripe citrus. The palate is zippy, with pithy lemon, dried herbs, and a briny touch of coarse sea salt.
Its sharp acidity and lingering finish make it the perfect partner for apéro bites like oysters, Marcona almonds, and salted potato chips.
Blend: 95% Piquepoul, 5% Ugni Blanc
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A delicious, balanced and flavorful blend of piquepoul and ugni blanc showing dried lemons, apples and some sweet spices on the nose. Medium-bodied with fresh acidity. Juicy and crunchy, with a seductive finish. From organically grown grapes.
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
A small category representing the wines that either fall outside of appellation lines or don’t subscribe to the law and traditions set forth by the French government within certain classified appellations, “Vin De France” is a catch-all that includes some of the most basic French wines as well as those of superior quality. The category includes large production, value-driven wines. It also includes some that were made with a great deal of creativity, diligence and talent by those who desire to make wine outside of governmental restrictions. These used to be called Vin de Table (table wine) but were renamed to compete with other European countries' wines of similar quality.