Mont Gravet Gascogne 2023

white peach, dried green apple, lemon zest, and fresh-shucked corn

Mont Gravet is one of the projects Mel created with his son Charlie, and is a label that focuses on wines produced in the southwest of France. The white comes from the Gascony region, which is most famous for the production of Armagnac, a spirit similar to Cognac. Many producers in the region are finding they can sell their old vine Colombard to make table wines and receive a better price than if being used as a base for distillation. It is the old vines that give this wine so much character for such a low price.

The 2022 vintage of Mont Gravet continues the change they made last year, now using a blend of 50% Colombard (a native Gascogne variety) and 50% Sauvignon Blanc. The Sauvignon Blanc, a transplant from its native Bordeaux to the north, adds acidity and freshness while the Colombard contributes body and structure. When you open this wine, I recommend serving chilled but not ice-cold (around 50 degrees Fahrenheit). This is a great wine for pairing with shrimp scampi or fresh raw oysters. Drink now through 2024.