Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh Vieilles Vignes Sec Domaine Berthoumieu 2010

A group of young winemakers have worked hard to promote the identity of their wines. These growers are known locally as 'Les Jeunes Mousquetaires' and foremost amongst them is Didier Barré whose achievements at Domaine Berthoumieu have been recognised in the Guide Hachette.

The Pacherenc, made from a blend of Gros Manseng, Courbu and Petit Manseng, is made from old vines (up to 50 years old) and half fermented in a tank and half in oak. The Charles de Batz is oak-aged, made from more than 90% Tannat.

This gets better every year, and is punchy with acidity and full of orchard fruit flavour. Bâtonnage lasts for eight months. This is a big, generous wine: quite golden in colour, with a nose of orchard fruits burnished by the sun, conjuring up images of a half misty/half sunny early autumn afternoon.