‘Circulade’ is the name given to hillside villages in the Languedoc, built in concentric circles during the Middle Ages to defend against marauders. The vineyards for these wines are located close to the village of Le Pouget, which still has a ‘Circulade’ in its historic centre. The vines are planted on limestone-based soils in the Hérault region of the Southern Languedoc, which lends a particular freshness to the finished wines. The sunny and warm climate here is moderated by cooling coastal breezes from the Mediterranean Sea, ensuring the grapes reach optimum ripeness while retaining lively acidity.
The Circulade wines are made exclusively for Liberty Wines by winemaker Marguerite Vasseur at the Le Pouget-based cooperative winery La Vicomté. Marguerite selects parcels of the best quality fruit during harvest, using stainless-steel to highlight fruit purity and individual varietal characters. The resulting Circulade wines are vibrant, fruit-driven and accessible, offering great value and quality.
The Grenache Blanc vines are planted on limestone-based soils in the Hérault region of the Southern Languedoc. The limestone lends a particular freshness to the finished wine. The sunny and warm climate here is moderated by cooling coastal breezes from the Mediterrean Sea, ensuring the grapes reach optimum ripeness while retaining lively acidity.
The 2023 vintage in the Languedoc began with a drier than usual winter. This resulted in a slow start to the growing season. Temperatures remained relatively mild until mid-August, when there was a heatwave. This accelerated ripening and, coupled with the lack of water reserves, resulted in lower yields. The harvest began earlier than usual and the grapes harvested were of excellent quality with well-defined aromatics and a balanced acidity.
Upon arrival at the winery, the fruit was gently pressed in order to retain the fresh fruit flavours and acidity. The juice was then transferred to temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks and cold settled, before undergoing cool fermentation at around 15 degrees celsius to preserve the fresh aromatics. The wine remained in tank before bottling in the spring following the harvest.
Fresh and unoaked, this Grenache Blanc combines an expressive citrus fruit character with hints of white peach and a refreshing finish.
