Today our Wine-Director and Master of Wine, David Allen shares a suggestion for a great-value, versatile easy-drinking, dry southern French white wine – Domaine du Tariquet Classic IGP Cotes de Gascogne 2021.
Château du Tariquet (also known as Domaine Tariquet) is a wine and Armagnac-producing estate near Éauze, between Agen and Pau in South West France. The 900-hectare (2200-acre) wine estate was purchased by the Artaud family in 1912 and today is best known for its portfolio of Bas Armagnac brandies and Côtes de Gascogne IGP white wines.
Jean Pierre Artaud founded the estate in 1912 with his father, a bear tamer. Following the Second World War, Château du Tariquet came under control of Artaud’s daughter Hélène and her husband Pierre Grassa, who revived the vineyards that had been devastated by the phylloxera epidemic.
The estate devoted the entirety of its production to Bas Armagnac brandies until 1982, when a range of white wines were added to the portfolio. Yves Grassa was the initiator of this change and was among the first winemakers in the Côtes de Gascogne region to plant Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc. Today the estate is managed by Armin and Rémy Grassa.
Château du Tariquet produces a portfolio of white wines based on grape varieties including Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Sauvignon Blanc, Gros Manseng, Chenin Blanc, Sémillon and Chardonnay. The château also makes a single rosé wine from Merlot, Syrah and Tannat.
The Château du Tariquet Armagnac range is largely devoted to Bas Armagnac, made from varying blends of Baco Blanc and Ugni Blanc. However, the estate also makes a selection of Folle Blanche-based Armagnacs, including Blanche Armagnac and a single Bas Armagnac, as well as Floc de Gascogne liqueurs.
Find this wine on Wine-Searcher, along with pricing and technical information by following the link below:
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