2010 Pineau d'Aunis Rosé, Jean-Marc Villemaine, Thesée
Delicate. lightly spicy Pineau d'Aunis Rosé is something of a speciality in eastern Touraine. Often the grapes are pressed very soon after they picked with little or no maceration on the skins giving a delicate pale pink colour. This 2010 example from Jean-Marc Villemaine in Thesée in the Cher Valley, where he has some 20 hectares, was sent to me by Charles Hawkins & Partners Ltd. This is certainly an attractive, easy drinking rosé ideal for spring and summer apéros.
Unfortunately pure Pineau d'Aunis will soon not be entitled to the Touraine appellation. Under the proposed vinously illiterate reforms Touraine rosé will have to be a blend. Utterly idiotic when Pineau d'Aunis works here so well as a light, refreshing and distinctive rosé and there is both an established tradition and a market for these wines.
4 comments:
I continue to look for the more obscure wines when I prowl around stores here in AB. I have never come come across Pineau d`Aunis.
Bob/Alberta
Bob. When you are next in Touraine I'll serve you a Pineau d'Aunis Rosé.
Does not being entitled to the Touraine appelation mean they will stop making it? I was thinking of looking out for it.
Jean. I fancy that many producers will just ignore the reforms, continue to make their Pineau d'Aunis Rosé and sell it under the new Vin de France category.
Indeed some like Jean-Christophe Mandard are already switching wines that will soon not be eligible for the Touraine appellation to Vin de France.
Pineau d'Aunis Rosé is worth looking out for – lovely spring and summer drink.
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