La Perle Rare Jones Grenache Gris, Vin de France, #

A standout wine from Katie Jones in the western Languedoc. It is complex with woody aromas, cooked fruits, smoke, nutmeg spice and lots of personality. It was made from Grenache Gris grown on dark-black slate soils near the village of Maury in Roussillon. In 2009, Katie had a barrel of Grenache Gris that she found too oaky and so left it to one side in a corner of the winery, occasionally topping it up with other leftover wines. On tasting it four years later, she was amazed at how the wine had developed and decided to bottle it. Katie now keeps three barrels in the winery from different vintages, topping up the oldest vintage with the younger wines and bottles just one barrel each year to produce 300 bottles. In total, the wines have each spent at least three years in oak. The palate is supple with similar aromas as the bouquet complemented by lemon curd and a tangy acidity. It is firm with lingering flavours – an absolute treat!