Picpoul de Pinet (pick-pull duh pin-nay) may sound like an intimidating grape name, but I assure you it’s nothing but welcoming and inviting to your taste buds once you get past the tongue twister of a name. The best Picpouls (as I’ve lovingly nicknamed them) come from southern France, the Languedoc region to be exact. The Kysela Pere et Fils Picpoul is refreshingly crisp with slight grapefruit and exotic fruit notes. This wine is young with a 2013 vintage, but these wines are actually at their peak at a young age. The focus on the palate is one of lime and perfectly balanced acidity, which are hallmarks of this grape varietal. For the locals, this wine is a no-brainer pairing for fresh seafood dishes and creamy goat cheeses. At $11.99 a bottle, this white wine is a staple in my personal wine rack all throughout the spring and summer months. ~ Jessica Coburn
This week’s red selection is a bargain Syrah from Languedoc. The breeze coming in from the Balearic Sea to the South brings salty, cool air to mingle with the grapes, giving them a dry acidity. The La Source Syrah has aromas of lavender and dark berries, with rich flavors of blueberry, cocoa, and mushroom behind a rustic texture. It pairs well with just about everything, as most Syrahs do, but my cheese recommendation is Sottocenere, a truffle-infused cow’s milk coated in vegetable ash from Italy. At $11 a pop, you’d be hard pressed to find a better wine from the French. ~ Candace D. Gahan
About the Girls behind the Glasses:
Jessica (right) is a native Texan and a self-proclaimed oenophile who enjoys curling up with a good book, a glass of wine, and her cat (usually all at the same time). She can be found selling wine and cheese in the bottle shop of Wine Country Bistro during the week and on her days off biking along the river front and checking out local hot spots around Shreveport. Email her your wine questions at jessica@winecountrynet.com.
Candace is a wine geek at Wine Country Bistro & Bottle Shop in Shreveport, LA, where she peddles fine wine and artisan cheese. Her favorite local spots are Rhino Coffee, Great Raft Brewery, and Day Old Blues Records. Email her your wine questions at candace@winecountrynet.com.