Racine Pinot Noir, Languedoc 2019

Bruno Lafon comes from a long line of Burgundian winemakers who left Burgundy determined to make wine as good as fine Burgundy but to be sold at much lower prices. Twenty years ago he planted vines south of Carcassonne in the Pays d’Oc. This wonderful corner of the Languedoc with its own language and complex history of the Albigensian heresy, is one of the most beautiful of France.

Bruno’s Racine Pinot Noir is a glorious representative of the region, with that earthy, wonderful quality that the late Steven Spurrier first championed in his book French Country Wines. Delicious fresh fruit and a real fine mouthful of a wine, from that voluptuous, low-yielding, difficult to grow gem of a grape that is pinot noir.

How does the wine taste?
Softly-textured, juicy, crunchy red fruit with just a hint of tobacco leaf and winter spice, this is an eminently drinkable and pleasurable pinot. The best places to produce this delicate grape variety are always on the cool side, and here the altitude of the vineyard and influence from the ocean slow down the ripening season and keep the alcohol levels relatively low and the acidity lively. The result is you'll struggle not to finish the bottle!

What do the critics say?
"A Pinot from the Languedoc, this has certainly retained freshness and edge in the heat of the south, with only 12.5% alcohol and a crisp, herb and red fruit nose. It's a Pinot in an authentically light- to medium-bodied style, fragrant and staying crisp and refreshing. The antithesis of 'blockbuster', but lovely of its style." (previous vintage)
Tom Cannavan, wine-pages.com