Château Montus Pacherenc du Vic Bilh 2008

Château Montus Pacherenc du Vic Bilh 2008

- Grape type: 90% Petit Courbu, 10% Petit Manseng
- Region: France > Sud-Ouest > Pacherenc du Vic Bilh
- Alcohol: 14% by volume
- Retail Price: $25-30

Today I tasted an interesting French wine, very different from the French wines that I have tasted so far. Instead sharing a recipe, I want to introduce the wine to you for this week.

Château Montus Pacherenc du Vic Bilh 2008 is from South-West region of France (Sud-Ouest), whose wines are not famous like the wines from other parts of France, including Bordeaux, Bourgogne, and Champagne. The lack of fame works well for us (consumers), providing affordable wines with really good quality.

Pour your Montus white from the bright green bottle into a wine glass. It is beautiful golden yellow in color with sweet fruity nose (honey, mango, pineapple, apple juice, and lemon curd...). Yet, in contrast to its sweet smell, one sip of the wine will give you tone of acidity and mineral with no sweet taste whatsoever.

Usually, when a 14% alcohol white wine smells like tropical fruits (mango, or pineapple in this case), the wine is not very acid, but more round and smooth in palate, because those high alcohol and tropical fruit smells are mostly from riper grape. That's why I think Montus white wine is very interesting - you can get both the strong tropical fruits and tones of acidity. In addition to the tropical fruits, you can also get subtle vanilla and mushroom flavors from this wine! Yes, this is one complex French wine.

The acid and mineral make this wine a perfect pair with any seafood dish (except spicy seafood). Or, you can just enjoy this refreshing white wine by itself with some salty snack.

Hope you find this wine interesting and enjoyable!