Château Saint-Roch Vieilles Vignes Blanc 2018 Côtes du Roussillon, France 75cl

Château Saint-Roch sits in the Agly Valley near Maury in Roussillon, now part of Jean-Marc Lafage’s family of southern French estates. This is dramatic, schist-strewn country in the far south of France, where old vines dig deep for water and give small, concentrated crops. The warm days and cooling mountain air lend the wines both ripeness and freshness.

The blend brings together Grenache Blanc for body and Roussanne for perfume and structure, drawn from mature vineyards. Made to show texture and savour, it is a white with real presence rather than a light, simple aperitif style, and the old-vine fruit gives it depth.

The 2018 season in Roussillon delivered warm, ripe fruit, and the old vines here helped keep the wine balanced. The result is a full but composed white that reflects its warm Mediterranean home.

Look for white peach and apricot, honey and a herbal, garrigue-scented lift, all carried on a broad, dry palate with a long, gently saline finish. Serve it lightly chilled rather than ice-cold, so its texture and aromas can show. It suits roast chicken, pork, or fish in a creamy sauce, and has the weight to stand up to richer dishes.

If you enjoy white Châteauneuf-du-Pape or other southern Rhône whites, this Roussillon blend follows a similar path for less. A characterful choice for anyone ready to look beyond the usual whites and try something with a bit more substance. It is the kind of white that wins over people who think they only drink red, and it flatters autumn cooking especially well.