Château Morin Langaran Beaugaran Picpoul de Pinet 2019 Languedoc, France 75cl

Château Morin Langaran lies in the Languedoc near the Étang de Thau, the salty coastal lagoon whose oyster beds have shaped the local table for generations. Picpoul de Pinet is the region’s signature white, grown in the villages around the lagoon, and this is a textbook example of the style.

The wine is pure Piquepoul Blanc, a variety whose name translates loosely as ‘lip-stinger’, a nod to its lively acidity. Grown on sun-soaked coastal vineyards and made in a fresh, unoaked style, it keeps the focus on citrus purity and a clean, dry line rather than weight or oak.

The 2019 season in the Languedoc was warm and dry, giving ripe, healthy fruit while the sea breezes preserved freshness. That balance shows in a wine that is generous but still crisp and refreshing.

Pale with a green tint, it offers lemon, grapefruit and green apple, a white-flower note and a gentle saline edge on the finish. Serve it well chilled, straight from the fridge. It is a natural with oysters, mussels and other shellfish, with grilled sea bass, or with a simple plate of prawns, and makes an easy aperitif on a warm day.

If you reach for Muscadet or a dry Italian white with seafood, Picpoul de Pinet belongs on the same shelf. Easy to love and easy to serve, it is a reliable summer white for the table or the terrace, best enjoyed young and fresh while its zip is at its brightest. Chilled well, it is the ideal partner to a seafood platter shared with friends on a warm evening.