Philippe Pibarot, "Cante Renard Blanc" 2018

Since 2001, Phillipe Pibarot has been at the vanguard of the southern French natural wine renaissance of sorts. Working in the gentle foothills outside the small commune Mus, of the northern Languedoc, Philippe has been focusing – vintage after vintage – on the nexus between naturally vin de soif characteristics in young wines wildly fermented and the more robust, spiced elements of Languedoc terroir, expressed through some of southern France’s bolder, classic varieties such as Mourvedre and Syrah. Rather than ascribing to any one ideological school, Philippe dubs himself a “conscientious craftsman” though by any account these are unadulterated, pure, natural wines that have served as a lodestar for organic and biodynamic growers of the northern Languedoc for nearly two decades.

Tasting: This is a crisp, rare, southern white blend from Philippe Pibarot of Mus, Northern Languedoc in the south of France. This is a white wine made for a picnic in the park, unprecious, thirst quenching and so versatile when it comes to food pairing. Bright acidity, stony minerality, pear and green apple. A more classic style that highlights the winemaker’s dedication to terroir and precision in process.

Vinification: A blend of Clairette, Macabeu, Terret, Picquepoul, Grenache Blanc, and Vermentino hand-harvested and directly-pressed. Spontaneous fermentation with ambient yeasts (no temp. control) takes place in stainless steel tank before a 12-18 month élevage also in tank. Bottled unfined, unfiltered with no additional SO2. 13.5%ABV