From: Ténarèze, Gascogne, Armagnac, France
Varietal: Colombard, Sauvignon Blanc, Ugni-blanc
Taste: The wine opens with strong citrus notes, mainly grapefruit, dominating the nose and palate. These vibrant citrus aromas complement crisp tree fruit elements, including fresh golden and green apples. Tropical hints of passion fruit and pineapple add a layer of exotic fruitiness, while subtle earthy undertones of minerals, stone, and truffle provide depth and complexity. An intense herbal character ties the profile together, giving the wine a refreshing and expressive finish.
Pairing: From Gascony, Garbure, a hearty vegetable and ham stew, is a perfect match as the wine’s bright acidity and citrus notes balance the dish’s rustic richness. Similarly, a Duck Gizzard Salad (Salade de Gésiers) featuring tender duck gizzards and a tangy vinaigrette finds harmony with the wine’s grapefruit, apple, and herbal notes, enhancing the greens' freshness. Piperade with Eggs, a Basque-influenced dish of tomatoes, peppers, and onions, highlights the wine’s herbal and citrus qualities while offering a pleasant contrast to the creamy eggs. For a more elegant option, Grilled White Fish with Béarnaise Sauce pairs seamlessly, as the wine’s acidity cuts through the richness of the butter and tarragon sauce while complementing the delicate fish flavors.
Looking beyond Gascony, the wine’s versatility shines with Asian dishes like Vietnamese Shrimp Spring Rolls (Gỏi Cuốn). The wine’s tropical fruit and citrus notes enhance the fresh shrimp, herbs, and vermicelli, while its crisp acidity balances dipping sauces like hoisin-peanut or fish sauce blends. Similarly, Thai Green Papaya Salad (Som Tum) is an excellent match, with the wine’s bright acidity and tropical flavors complementing the zesty lime juice, crunchy green papaya, and aromatic herbs while also providing a refreshing balance to the dish’s subtle chili heat.
Alaska Halibut with Orange Béarnaise Sauce
by Copper River Seafood
About. Fifth-generation winemaker Philippe Fezas of Domaine Chiroulet likens great wine to music: “The more notes there are, the more beautiful the symphony.” He crafts wines bursting with a dynamic range of flavors and textures while maintaining remarkable affordability.
Located in the gently rolling hills of Armagnac country in Southwest France, Domaine Chiroulet draws its name from *chiroula*, Gascon for “whistling wind,” which ventilates the vineyards in this sunny region. The soils here – a mix of fine clay, limestone, and chalk – infuse the domaine’s renowned white wines with mineral-driven zest.
Wine Notes: The blend in this wine is 50% Colombard 25% Sauvignon, and 25% Ugni-blanc.
“The freshness of the grapes that make it up – Colombard, Sauvignon and Ugni Blanc – is carefully preserved by a very early morning harvest, “in the cool”, followed by a long maceration of the berries before pressing and cold fermentation.” From the Producer
