La Pèira blanc 2019 and Deusyls de la Pèira 2019 (La Pèira’s second white) are released a year or so earlier than their red 2019 counterparts due to a shorter elevage period.
What distinguishes the La Pèira whites from many southern white wines is their capacity to age.
Jancis Robinson reviewed the Deusyls de la Pèira 2008 (bottled before we made the first wine) in 2020 with the words:
“Lovely to taste an old white wine that has not lost its fruit. This promises rather well for Terrasses du Larzac whites…”
Her recent reviews of the La Pèira whites, a collection of reviews to-date-, and, hopefully, some feeling of what characterises whites wines from the Terrasses du Larzac – and those of La Pèira – are below.
Towards a Terrasses du Larzac White AOP
“Headily floral perfume”, “Satin texture and excellent cut of acidity”, “Distinctly Condrieu-ish”, “Very well done!”, “Dense and racy and honeyed”, “like a lovely Northern Rhône white”, “A very interesting, but already fully formed, wine”, “Really exciting and good”, “Honeysuckle”, “Ripe apricots with a savoury undertow”, “A kick of citrus, even lime-peel, acidity”. All comments from Jancis Robinson from her reviews of La Pèira’s whites from 2005 to 2018. Most recently, Jancis reviewed the 2008 Deusyls de la Pèira in 2020 after 12 years in bottle: Her note: “Deep copper colour. Strong honey and spicy biscuits on the nose but still lively. Very rich
with an edge of veg to keep it fresh. Lovely to taste an old white wine that has not lost its fruit. This promises rather well for Terrasses du Larzac whites…”
TERRASSES DU LARZAC WHITES
A Terrasses du Larzac white AOP (Appellation d’Origine Protégée) is what we are working towards. In fact, La Pèira’s Bois de Pauliau plot has been part of the white wine Clairette AOP for over half a century since 1948. We grow Clairette, but include other grape varieties such as Roussanne, Marsanne, Viognier, Grenache blanc in the La Pèira whites: Both the Deusyls and La Pèira Blanc in 2019 are stunning. The vintage is not yet reviewed but past reviews are below. Here are the most recent Wine Advocate reviews:
WINE ADVOCATE REVIEWS
2018 La Pèira Blanc Rating 91 – 93
“It’s full-bodied and creamy in texture, a rich white that retains a bit of citrus zest”
2016 La Pèira Blanc Rating 93 – 95
“first-rate purity and freshness, it’s probably the white wine of the vintage.”
2015 La Peira Blanc Rating 91 – 93
“It’s certainly an outstanding wine”
2014 La Pèira Blanc 94
“this beauty is up with the top whites of the appellation.”
2018 Deusyls de la Pèira (90 – 92)
“Full-bodied and lush.”
2016 Deusyls de la Pèira 90 – 92
“Like everything here, it’s impeccably made.”
2015 Deusyls de la Pèira (89 – 91)
“Medium-bodied, elegant and balanced”
2014 Deusyls de la Pèira 92
“Fresh and lively, with superb purity of fruit”
2013 Deusyls de la Pèira 92
“Layered, downright classy, medium to full-bodied”
2012 Deusyls de la Pèira 94
“It’s a smoking white”
2011 Deusyls de la Pèira 94
“Vibrant, energetic and with a great finish”
2010 Deusyls de la Pèira 92
“Elegant, seamless”
2009 Deusyls de la Pèira (90 – 91)
“Outstanding effort”
2008 Deusyls de la Pèira 91
“Intriguing, elusive mineral traces”
2006 Deusyls de la Pèira 92
“Demonstrates the striking potential of this site and talented team extends to white wine”
JANCIS ROBINSON
LA PEIRA BLANC RECENT REVIEWS
“…Any oak is exceptionally discreet in these three whites (2016, 2017 and this 2018). Very well done!”
Jancis Robinson’s La Pèira white wine reviews got off to a great start with her first review of the Deusyls 2005 and the words:
“Dense and racy and honeyed and like a lovely Northern Rhône white. Really exciting and good.”
Here are her recent La Pèira Blanc reviews.
La Pèira Blanc 2018 17 Relatively youthful, muted nose but with everything in the right place. Very powerful Viognier character here – ripe apricots with a savoury undertow. Distinctly Condrieu-ish. Some spice is bubbling up too, but not in an oak idiom. Any oak is exceptionally discreet in these three whites (2016, 2017 and this 2018). Very well done!
La Pèira Blanc 2017 16.5 Deeper, yellower gold than the 2016. Exotic, fully ripe, blossomy hedgerow aromas. Much fatter and more evolved than the 2016. This is no aperitif! But could sit happily with a rich shellfish dish, not least because it does finish with a kick of citrus, even lime-peel, acidity. A very interesting, but already fully formed, wine.
La Pèira Blanc 2016 17 Crystal-clear greenish yellow. Headily floral perfume seems informed by the Viognier. Little notes of hazelnuts too. Satin texture and excellent cut of acidity. Very youthful for a three-year-old wine. Carries its alcohol well. Just a tiny bit of texture on the end. Sophisticated wine.