Domaine de Ménard ‘Cuvée Marine’ 2020 Côte de Gascogne Blanc 11%

This wine comes from the Côtes de Gascogne in Southwest France and what makes it particularly special is the terroir; the complex soil is made up of fossilized oyster shells, remarkably similar to those of Chablis and Sancerre. This explains the name ‘Cuvée Marine’ and the terroir here gives the wine its distinct mineral complexity, far beyond something you’d normally expect to find in this price bracket. In fact, past vintages have secured a massive array of awards, and honestly the new vintage for me is the best I have tasted.

Cuvée Marine is made up from old vine Colombard (60%), Gros Manseng (20%) and Sauvignon Blanc (20%). This unique blend makes a refreshing change from single varietals such as Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay – you can certainly taste the Sauvignon Blanc in this wine but the overall effect with the other varieties produces a delicious, rounded wine with vibrant, very pure fruit.

A pale straw in the glass, the Cuvee Marine offers up a pronounced aromas of fresh citrus, gooseberry, melon and lychee intermixed with spring flowers and a twist of elderflower. On the palate freshness is its watchword, the generous fruit delivered with such clean precision The Gros Manseng gives roundness to the body of the wine whilst the Sauvignon and Colombard gives that lovely taught acidity that really lifts the palate. The finish is long, rich citrus notes combine with white spice and sugarsnap pea, along with a backbone of seashell minerality.

This is a great value white that is perfect to stock up on over the coming months, beautifully balanced and incredibly refreshing but with a complexity you just don’t normally find with wines of this price. If you love Sancerre or Chablis and even New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, this wine will have an immediate appeal. It is also an incredibly adaptable wine, great as an aperitif or to washed down at varied picnic or barbeques, but not so humble it can’t grace a good dinning table, matching well with seafood like seared scallops and samphire or creamy pasta dishes like a fantastic carbonara.