6MAY01 François Lurton “Hauts de Janeil Blanc” WHITE BLEND, Côtes Catalanes, Roussillon, France 2022 (F, O)
4 and 6 bottle levels $21 (member price $18)
70% Grenache Blanc, 30% Sauvignon Blanc 12.0% ABV
The Mas Janeil Vineyard lies at the foot of the Corbières Massif in Agly Valley. There are a wide variety of soil types in the vineyard, including schist, clay and limestone. It’s a windswept area northwest of Perpignan, about 20 miles from the Mediterranean. Nearby are the caves of Tautavel Man, who existed 450,000+ years ago, making him the oldest human remains discovered in France. Aged in stainless steel, with notes of tangerine, lemon, yellow apple.
Food Pairing Suggestions:
Serve this elegant, food-friendly white with French classics like Bouillabaisse, cassoulet, chicken fricassee, Blanquette of veal and Pâté, or simply enjoy a glass with grilled halibut over potato fennel puree, pork tenderloin with apple, fennel and onion compote, braised rabbit in a mustardy sauce, sautéed scallops over butternut squash puree, garlic-tossed prawns, fish tacos, classic seafood Paella, herb-rubbed roast chicken, Thai-sauced tuna, and salmon smothered in a truffled cream sauce. This white blend is also a versatile companion to a variety of cheeses from the soft and rich, like Camembert, herbed Boursin and Explorateur, to the stinkiest of washed rind cheeses, like Epoisses.