Château Lafitte Argile 2022

Chateau Lafitte sits in the village of Monein in the Jurancon appellation of Aquitaine, south-west France, where Philippe and Brigitte Arraou run the estate on biodynamic and natural lines, following Rudolf Steiner's ideas and working with minimal intervention. This dry wine, bottled at 500 ml, is made from Petit Manseng, the region's thick-skinned white grape suited to the wet, mild climate at the foot of the Pyrenees, where warm days and cool mountain air keep the fruit both ripe and high in acidity. The wine is aged in clay amphorae, which allow a slow, gentle exchange of air through the porous walls and add texture and weight while contributing no oak flavour, letting the grape and the site come through. Minimal-intervention winemaking keeps the character direct and unfiltered. The colour is bright gold. The nose is aromatic and floral, with apricot, white peach and citrus peel over honey, white flowers and a light ginger spice. The palate is dry, textured and full, the exotic fruit balanced by a firm, saline acidity that keeps it fresh through a long finish. Serve at 10 to 12 degrees. It suits roast poultry, pork and white fish.