Tasting Notes
The team at Domaine Gayda has great connections with Boekenhoutskloof in Franschhoek, producers of the famous Chocolate Block wine and their lovely Semillon both off which I stock. Gayda's winemaker, Vincent Chansault, used to work there and Boekenhoutskloof winemaker, Marc Kent, is a Non-Executive Director of Domaine Gayda helping "...with advice and motivation.... and a fanatical approach to quality." And it shows as all their wines are well made using organic principles (now certified organic) and minimal intervention.
This Pays d'Oc dry white wine is a blend of white Grenache (55%), Macabeo (20%), Marsanne (20%) and Roussanne (5%) which has been only very lightly oaked - only some of the grape juice was fermented and aged in barrels. The blend of grapes, terroir, light oak influence and lees stirring have given it an amazing depth of fruit flavours complemented by salty minerality. It's crisp with very subtle pineapple flavours and a stony minerality plus a very smooth texture. This is A-mazing and tastes more like a £25 bottle of wine. Sauvignon Blanc fans will love it. Mind you I'm more of a Chardonnay girl and this is one of my summer favourites this year! It's also organic & vegan-friendly.
Food Pairing
This wine is great on its own but given its body and structure it will also match well with a range of foods including seafood generally, shellfish, fish including fish ceviche or tartare, sushi, smoked salmon & smoked trout. It will also cope well with richer dishes even those in a creamy sauce.
Producer's Notes
"Figure Libre Freestyle is the name given to an ambitious range of wines designed to shake up conventions and break new ground for expressing the inherent style of Languedoc and Roussillon. Turning its back on appellation rules, it favours freedom of choice in terms of varietal range, both single varietals and blends. Figure Libre Freestyle reflects a desire to think outside the box and bring together grape varieties that would otherwise never have met in the same bottle.
Deep gold colour, very aromatic, with hints of stone fruit and honeysuckle. A rich full bodied wine with real depth, weight and concentration and a hint of oak to add further complexity. A lot of personality. Approachable now but will continue to develop and improve over the next 5 years."
Awards
16.5 points JancisRobinson.com (TC) Nov 2017
"Wide open, generous, peaches and oranges nose. Spice and cream and packed with fruit and mouth-watering freshness. Fills all the corners and quite a bit of depth and texture. Quite scrumptious, lengthened by the salty finish, and all that at just 12.5%. Bravo! GV" GV = good value
16.5 points JancisRobinson.com (JH) Oct 2017
"Complex aroma that is more scented than I expected, ripe pears, a touch of spice, clementine and a creamy impression from the lees. On the palate, a slight grain like fresh pears but also a depth of creamy texture from the lees. Although it is not particularly intense, it is full of flavour and yet with very modest alcohol. Bone dry, chewy and fresh on the finish. Very moreish, with a savouriness that increases the freshness since none of these varieties has particularly marked acidity. Should age well but it's delicious now."
One of three wines of the week in The Observer Jun 2020 "... superb value Freestyle blend, which has Rhône-ish pear, peach and yellow plum plus a distinctive herb-edged freshness."
