The Cave Ormarine is in the town of Picpoul, just north of Bezier, west of Sete and next to Meze. The region is oyster country, as the oyster beds are a stone’s throw from each of those coastal towns.
And like dining on a plate of those just out of the water salty oysters, so fresh is the taste of the 2018 L’Ormarine Carte Noire Picpoul de Pinet. Beyond being the town name, the grape in the wine is also Pipoul, one of the 13 grapes permitted in Chateauneuf du Pape.
As it has been for centuries, Picpoul de Pinet is one of those white wines that has a romance with oysters, much like a dry Alsatian Riesling, crisp Chablis from Burgundy or a racy Sancerre from the Loire.
While the Picpoul grape lacks the expressive bouquet of those wines, what it gives up in aromatics, it makes up in lightness of weight and its delicate balance of lemon, lime and kiwi flavors, and the soft mineral notes.
A perfect summer sipper, and an enjoyable wine to start the meal, are all good reasons why the 2018 L’Ormarine Carte Noire Picpoul de Pinet is today’s WineSiders’ Wine of The Day.
