Commanderie de Saint-Pierre la Garrigue : Commanderie Saint-Pierre la Garrigue Blanc 2021

Tasting Notes and Serving Tips for the Commanderie Saint-Pierre la Garrigue Blanc 2021

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a beautiful luminous, brilliant color, punctuated by golden highlights.

Nose

The nose is powerful, revealing pronounced notes of exotic fruits such as lychee and pineapple. Buttery nuances add extra complexity, alongside citrus aromas like lemon and grapefruit. Brioche notes further enrich the aromatic palette.

Palate

On the palate, the wine reveals a magnificent minerality that provides the foundation for the whole. Exotic fruit aromas unfold fully, accompanied by notes of pomegranate and brioche. Freshness remains heightened by lemony touches, supported by well-structured acidity. The finish is remarkably long, saline and mineral, with lingering citrus notes. The oak, remarkably well integrated, brings length and power without overpowering the fruit or terroir character.

Food and Wine Pairing

This white wine pairs perfectly with fig foie gras, a hard cheese or poultry in a cream sauce. Its freshness and minerality also make it an excellent match for fine fish, fish tartares or aged cheeses.

Serving and Cellaring

The Commanderie Saint-Pierre la Garrigue Blanc 2021 is best enjoyed between 12°C and 14°C. Decanting is recommended before tasting to allow the wine to fully раскры its complex aromas. This wine can be cellared until around 2031.

A Languedoc white wine combining minerality and Mediterranean freshness

The Estate

The Commanderie de Saint-Pierre la Garrigue has historical roots dating back to the 12th century, when the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem founded this commandery. In 2005, Count Jehan de Woillemont, then 23 years old and representing the eighth generation of winegrowers in his family, acquired this abandoned vineyard. Ten years of hard work were needed to completely renovate the property left fallow. Today, the estate covers forty-one hectares planted with eleven different grape varieties, on the heights of Saint-Pierre-la-Mer. The Woillemont family has also run Château de Marmorières since 1826, thus establishing a remarkable continuity in winemaking.

The Vineyard

The vineyard of the Commanderie de Saint-Pierre la Garrigue lies on the heights of Saint-Pierre-la-Mer in the La Clape appellation, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea from forty meters above. This privileged location offers generous sunshine tempered by maritime influence that moderates the summer heat. The plots rest on Cretaceous clay-limestone soils with a notable presence of pebbly scree on the foothills of the cliffs. The vineyard is structured around two main exposures: one facing East, fully benefiting from maritime freshness, and the other facing due South for more intense wines. Some plots are planted on reclaimed garrigue scrubland, while others occupy a hollow benefiting from marine freshness. The estate is certified Haute Valeur Environnementale and practices sustainable viticulture with Royat cordon training to limit yields.

Winemaking and Aging

The grapes for the Commanderie Saint-Pierre la Garrigue Blanc 2021 are harvested at optimal ripeness after individual berry tasting. The best plots of bourboulenc, grenache blanc, roussanne and marsanne are separated for dedicated vinification. During the final third of alcoholic fermentation, this Languedoc wine is barreled down into 225-liter and 500-liter French oak barrels. Over two months, weekly bâtonnage is carried out. The barrels are then selected individually before the final blend after aging for six to eight months.

Grape varieties

Grenache blanc (40%), bourboulenc (30%), roussanne (20%), marsanne (10%)