Laithwaites Wine - Pavillon de Lobre

Tasting note
Colour - Pale greenish gold.

Aroma - Zingy citrus and green apple aromas with grassy notes too.

Taste - Ripe lime, green apples and gooseberry with excellent underlying acidity, and nice weight too.

Type:Still White Wine	Country:France	Appellation:Côtes du Tarn VdP
Grape Type:White Blend	Drink Before:End of 2009	Style:Dry
Alcohol:12%	Bottle Size:75cl	Bottle Code:26839

Serving suggestions
Enjoy simply on its own or with creamy sauced chicken, fish pie or salmon. Vegetarian options might include fennel risotto or a pear and blue cheese salad. Serve well chilled.

Description
A white with thrilling freshness and the unique classic flavours of traditional France. Not that this wine is old-fashioned at all. No, more a New World twist on the native grapes of southwest France.

Pavillon de Lobre is from a domain in the Gaillac region of southwest France that dates back to the 15th century, when it was built as a fortified farmhouse (this part of France is littered with tiny hilltop villages, with massive fortifications, perched on impossible precipices - the home to the Albigensian Crusades). Today, this property has vineyards, but no cellar of its own, so sends its grapes to the world renowned Cave de Labastide de Lévis for vinification. The vineyards are relatively high at 300-350 metres, which helps to produce nicely aromatic, crisp, well-defined grapes.

The wine is a blend of 50% Loin de l'Oeil and 50% Sauvignon Blanc. Loin de l'Oeil is a traditional grape variety which gives lively, fresh citrus notes, plus some weight and spice and means 'far from the eye' or bud. Sauvignon Blanc adds a mineral, crisp note with grassy green aromas. The combination produces a wine with crisp, exotic green apple and citrus character. A portion of wine matured in wood adds complexity and depth. To increase concentration, yields were kept low - more in line with AOC Gaillac, than the larger yields permitted for vins de pays.