Synopsis, Our Opinion: This should be labeled “Outstanding Inexpensive White Wine” to separate it from all the other mediocre
wine on the grocery store shelf. At this price it’s a weeknight “keeper”
on everyone’s wine list.
Producer/Winery: Famille Perrin; La Vieille Ferme; Orange, France.
Grape Variety: White blend – Bourboulenc, Grenache blanc, Vermentino and Ugni blanc.
Geographic Appellation, Region, Country: Southern Rhone Valley, France.
Vintage: 2019
Price: $5.99 (with a 25% mixed case discount)
Purchased From: Harris Teeter Grocery Store; Kernersville, North Carolina.
Paired With: Roast chicken, Basmati rice and green beans.
Tasting:
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Note: Every now and again, when we find a good sale, we purchase wine we know nothing about from the grocery store. This is one of those sale-price “pig in a poke” grocery store wines. Generally we try to get non-domestic brands simply because we have been disappointed so frequently with sweet, poor quality wines…especially the reds. However, occasionally we get lucky and discover a real winner…a wine with excellent quality that’s sold at a very low price.
Chilled before drinking. Crystal clear very, very light lemon yellow color with a tint of green. Very prevalent Grenache blanc like aromas with just a bit of citrus, green apple, hints of jasmine floral and fresh cut grass. Dry, dusty and somewhat delicate mouthfeel, medium body and a 100 grit texture. Appealing tastes of slightly tart Granny Smith apple, lemon and green peppers, green herbs and raw freshly shocked peas. Soft acidity with a fairly long apple and dry mineral finish. WOW, an unpretentious basic white with delightful tart aromas, a savoy taste and a lively finish but the mineral aftertaste really set the stage. This should be labeled “Outstanding Inexpensive White Wine” to separate it from all the other mediocre wine on the grocery store shelf. At this price it’s a weeknight “keeper” on everyone’s wine list.
As a finale to this review we would like to say that we’ve had both this and the La Vieille Ferme Rouge many times before while in California where it’s priced at only $5.59. Each time we taste either of these wines our comment is always the same…“without question this is the best wine at this price we have ever had”…and that simply says it all!!! The wine is consistently good from each vintage and no matter which coast we purchase it. Our hats are off to the Perrin family for continually producing such fantastic entry level wines.
Photo from La Vieille Ferme.
See our reviews of other Perrin family wines.
Alcohol Content: 13%
Closure: screw cap.
UPC Code: 0 89419 00020 7
Imported by: Vineyard Brands; Birmingham, Alabama.