Les Caves de Richemer, Terret Blanc
Vintage: 2023
| Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | RI403B23 | 6 x 75 | Screwcap | Available |
Producer
Les Caves de Richemer lies between the Mediterranean Sea and Étang de Thau lagoons on the coast of the Southern Languedoc. This cooperative winery oversees 1,000 hectares of vines in Hérault, all managed sustainably. The name Richemer stems from 19th-century tales of a modest winegrower, Henri Richet. Henri so quickly made his fortune in trading wines from the old port of Marseillan that people gave him the nickname ‘Henri de Richemer’. The seahorse on the label is the emblem of Caves de Richemer and is native to the lagoon.
The co-ops vineyards are located outside of the Picpoul de Pinet appellation, which is why the spelling of the ‘Picpoul’ grape on their labels is its alternative spelling ‘Piquepoul’. Their vineyards are planted on clay-limestone soil on the coast, alongside the Étang de Thau lagoons. This combination of limestone soils and sea breezes helps temper the warm summer temperatures, maintaining acidity and freshness in the grapes, which are carefully sorted and gently pressed before undergoing fermentation. Head winemaker Florian Masson uses temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks to maintain maximum freshness and primary fruit flavours in the final wines. The Piquepoul displays a bright citrus fruit character with white floral notes and refreshing acidity.
The Terret Blanc, a crisp, fresh wine similar to Piquepoul, is brimming with a lively, citrus fruit character. Terret is native to the southern Languedoc and, along with Picpoul, forms the backbone of the Noilly Prat Vermouth blend made in nearby Marseillan. Though one of the region’s oldest varieties, Terret is a grape for the future and is currently undergoing a resurgence. Drought-resistant, thick-skinned, and late ripening, it copes well during the increasingly hot Languedoc summers. Being naturally low in alcohol and high in acidity, it also consistently produces mouth-wateringly refreshing wines.
Vineyards
The Terret Blanc and Vermentino grapes are planted in sustainably managed vineyards on clay-limestone soils alongside the Étang de Thau sea lagoon. The combination of limestone soils and sea breezes help to temper the warm summer temperatures and retain freshness in the grapes. Terret Blanc is indigenous to the southern Languedoc and is one of the region’s oldest grape varieties. The growers at Richemer had the foresight not to replant all of their vineyards with Piquepoul during its boom in popularity and to keep plantings of Terret. Being a late ripening grape that retains its acidity and copes well in hot and dry conditions, Terret is a great grape for the future.
Vintage
The 2023 vintage in the Languedoc was characterised by hot and dry conditions, with less than 200mm of rain falling throughout the year. A drier than usual winter resulted in a slow start to the growing season. Temperatures remained relatively mild until mid-August, when there was a heatwave. This accelerated ripening and, coupled with the lack of water reserves, resulted in lower yields. The harvest began earlier than usual and the grapes harvested were of excellent quality with a good balance between ripe aromatics and refreshing acidity.
Vinification
Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes were gently pressed in a pneumatic press to yield a very clear must. The must was then left to settle for 24 hours before being racked off the gross lees and transferred to temperature-controlled stainless-steel vats. Fermentation at low temperatures ensured that the vibrant aromatics of the Terret were preserved in the final wine. Unoaked, the wine was kept in stainless steel until the final blend was assembled and the wine was fined and filtered before bottling in spring 2024.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
Pale lemon in colour. Aromas of bright citrus and stone fruit leap out of the glass and marry with subtle hints of orange blossom. On the palate, a rich texture is balanced by a refreshing acidity which carries the ripe fruit flavours onto the crisp finish.
Alcohol (ABV)
12.5%
Acidity
3.99 g/l
Residual Sugar
3.4 g/l
pH
3.19
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Les Caves de Richemer | Piquepoul IGP | RI401 | W | Factsheet |