Women of Wine: Domaine Félines Jourdan's Claude Jourdan
Women of Wine: Domaine Félines Jourdan's Claude Jourdan
Claude Jourdan is the unsung hero and groundbreaking godmother of the humble appellation known as Picpoul de Pinet. The name of the appellation itself translates into English as "lip stinger," but please know that Jourdan's wines are as layered and well balanced as any wines in the immediate area.
Harbored in the deep, deep south of France Languedoc region, bordering the tidal creek known as the Bassin de Thau where the freshwater of the estuary meets the salt water of the Mediterranean Sea, incredible clams and oysters desperately scour the shoreline for a perfect oenological companion. Happily, they don't have to search very far or very wide. Widely regarded as the premier estate of the appellation where the majority of the wines are simple, neutral, and churned out by large cooperatives, Claude Jourdan's wines are a notch above those of her neighbors. Hand-harvesting fully mature fruit, employing modern temperature-controlled fermentation, and relying on the produce of three small vineyards that her family domain owns, she possesses the ability to craft marine-influenced white wines within yards of the sea's spray. Fashioned exclusively from the Picpoul grape, her wines show considerable considerable distinction and character, allowing Domaine Félines Jourdan to go from strength to strength since 1983, when her estate was founded.
"As a private family estate, we obviously take great care of our wines and our vines and always aim to do our best [as if] it was our baby. Every year, we have another baby! Here in the Languedoc, which is very warm, we have this special little region which is very close to the sea, and we have sea breezes, and it is much more cool. For Picpoul, it is perfect here. The grapes come to full maturity by the end of September nearly every season." — Claude Jourdan
Featured Wine: Domaine Félines Jourdan Picpoul de Pinet
Anchored directly on the shoreline of the Mediterranean coast, the three estate-owned vineyards of Claude Jourdan's family winery are buffeted by sea spray, strong winds and a decisive dose of the Languedoc's legendary sunshine. Here is ideal terroir of the Picpoul grape, an indigenous varietal marked by the maritime influences of the area, which grows virtually nowhere else in the world. Three vineyards comprise the wine, each imparting a slightly different notion of soil and aspect. The culmination is a crisp, salty-dry white that shows both some weight and vivacity. It reminds us almost of a hypothetical combination of Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc (think Sancerre or Touraine), Petit Chablis and a Greek white like Santorini. The perfect foil for oysters, clams and really all things chilled and shellfish-related, it is a bonafide bargain and truly one of France' and Kowalski's "hidden gems."
Find Domaine Félines Jourdan Picpoul de Pinet in one of our six Wine & Spirits shops. Selection and availability may vary by market.
