WINE INFORMATION

In 2015, château owner Bertrand Gourdou was searching through an old desk when he came across a label that his grandfather had made in the early 1970's; that wine was called "Le pot-de-vin" which, in French, translates to "the bribe," which for that era was an audacious play on words for a wine label! This label inspired Bertrand to make a simple, natural wine: biodynamically grown fruit, fermented with native yeast and with a negligible dose of SO2, made in concrete tanks built by his grandfather. The word "pot" also references the old-style bottle shape.

Most of this estate's production is red, but they have a small number of Chardonnay vines planted too, which yield this succulent, freshly styled wine. Grown in the southern sun and vinified in concrete vats (no oak) at 13.7% alcohol, this wine is certified organic like all the wines in the Pot de Vin line.

Situated in Malepère, the most westerly region of the Languedoc, Château Guilhem was built in 1791. Then the property of the Marquis de Auberjon, it was bought by the Guilhem family in 1878. Bertrand is the fifth generation of his family to run the estate. Despite the vineyards' proximity to the Mediterranean, the climate here actually sees quite a bit of influence from the Atlantic; in addition, the soil here is atypical of the rest of the region, with a high proportion of calcareous sandstones. These stones help the soils to retain moisture over the winter so that the vines can flourish in the summer.

TASTING NOTES

Attractive aromas of white flowers and herbs, papaya, green melon and vanilla are lifted and refreshing. This medium-bodied wine is similar on the nose with a unique and attractive set of flavors and no oakiness at all. It has a waxy texture with light tropical notes of jasmine, green melon and rind, along with minerality, thyme and tarragon.

Cheese, Chicken/Turkey, Cream Sauce Pasta, Fish-full flavored (salmon/tuna), Fondue, Grilled preparations, Hearty stew, Lobster & Crab, Roasted Root Vegetables, Shellfish, Sushi, Vegetables