Explore Pineau Des Charentes

Discover the many subtleties of Pineau des Charentes. White, rosé or red, old or very old: we invite you to explore the complexity of these rich yet delicate creations.

 
Pineau des Charentes
 

Description

 
 

    • White

      Varieties: Ugni blanc, folle blanche, colombard, sémillon, sauvignon, montils, meslier Saint-François, jurançon blanc, merlot blanc, merlot noir, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc.
      Ageing: 18 months, including at least 12 months in oak barrels.
      Alcoholic strength: Generally 16% to 22%.
      Eye: Strawy yellow to deep-hued old gold, with regular droplets of clear liquid quickly forming around the glass.
      Nose: Intense, elegant and complex, lime-flower and fleur de vigne mixed with an aromatic palette of fresh fruits (peach, plum, fig), dried fruits (almond, prune, quince) and hints of honey and vanilla.
      Palate: Straight forward attack, quickly giving way to a broad and generous feel that fully expresses the rich yet delicate aroma of Pineau White.

    • White Old

      Varieties: Ugni blanc, folle blanche, colombard, sémillon, sauvignon, montils, meslier Saint-François, jurançon blanc, merlot blanc, merlot noir, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc.
      Ageing: At least 5 years in oak barrels to classify as Pineau des Charentes Old.
      Eye: Old gold with hints from brown to amber.
      Nose and palate: Honey, vanilla, plum, cinnamon, and hazelnut notes. Long ageing in wooden barrels gives this Pineau a uniquely powerful aroma and distinctive sensory characteristics known as rancio.

    • White Very Old

      Varieties: Ugni blanc, folle blanche, colombard, sémillon, sauvignon, montils, meslier Saint-François, jurançon blanc, merlot blanc, merlot noir, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc.
      Ageing: At least 10 years in oak barrels to classify as Pineau des Charentes Very Old.
      Eye: Old gold with hints from brown to amber.
      Nose and palate: Honey, vanilla, plum, cinnamon, and hazelnut notes. Lengthy ageing in wooden barrels gives this Pineau a uniquely powerful aroma and distinctive sensory characteristics known as rancio.

    • Red and Rosé

      Varieties: Cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, malbec and merlot noir.
      Ageing: 12 months, including at least 8 months in oak barrels.
      Alcoholic strength: Generally 16% to 22%.
      Eye: Mahogany, rosé or deep coppery red with brown hints.
      Nose: Pineau des Charentes Rosé is particularly light and elegant, with raspberry, cherry notes. Pineau des Charentes Red is intense and generous, its bouquet is an explosion of freshly picked black fruits such as blackcurrant, blackberry and Morello cherry, sublimated by notes of spices, liquorice, cinnamon and vanilla.
      Palate: Supple attack. Generous and powerful notes of red fruit. Excellent aromatic persistence.

    • Red and Rosé Old

      Varieties: Cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, malbec and merlot noir.
      Ageing: At least 5 years in oak barrels to classify as Pineau des Charentes Old.
      Eye: Rosé, amber, hints of brick.
      Nose and palate: Woody notes, prune aromas and chocolate notes. Excellent aromatic persistence.

    • Red and Rosé Very Old

      Varieties: Cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, malbec and merlot noir.
      Ageing: At least 10 years in oak barrels to classify as Pineau des Charentes Very Old.
      Eye: Rosé, amber, hints of brick.
      Nose and palate: Woody notes, prune aromas and chocolate notes. Excellent aromatic persistence.

Eye

A wineglass is ideal for this exercise. Hold it up against a light background to appreciate the colours and hues.
Whites: Dominant tones range from fresh to gilded straw, then honey, with the gold becoming more intense with age. These are followed by hues of apple green, silver or gold. Pineau are limpid and of great brilliance.
Reds: Ruby to black cherry, sometimes fuchsia. Hues of pink, pomegranate, brick or amber with age.
Rosés: Pale copper in the case of light rosés; raspberry for the darker ones. Orange, pale or bright pink hues.

Nose

Turn the glass to aerate the wine and liberate the volatile molecules of aromas to appreciate their intensity and complexity.
Whites: Aromas of white and yellow fruit, honey, acacia. Ageing in wooden barrels gives notes of rancio: ripe and dried fruit, hazelnut, grilled almond, vanilla, buttered, toasted.
Reds: Red fruits predominate: strawberry, morello cherry, blackcurrant, preserved fruit. With time, acquires aromas of prunes and cherry brandy and roasted cacao.
Rosés: Tart red fruit, raspberry, redcurrant.  

Palate

Again, aerate the Pineau des Charentes by turning it on your palate. Your olfactory cells are in your nose, not your palate. The process known as retro-olfaction involves inhaling air when the wine is on the palate, to conduct the aromas directly to the olfactory bulb in the brain and detect the flavours that the wine leaves behind.
The first attack is lively and reviving, while the second gives a sweetness and fatness that envelops the palate.
Old and Very Old Pineau des Charentes are longer on the palate. This length actually has a unit of measurement: the caudalie, one second of the wine’s impact on the palate after it is swallowed.

Serving

Pineau des Charentes needs to be served at just the right temperature. If kept too cold, it will lose its aromatic intensity.
When used as an aperitif, serve at between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius, and add an ice cube if required.
When consumed during or after a meal, serve Old or Very Old Pineau des Charentes at a slightly below room temperature.

Storage

Always store upright. Recork open bottles and place in the fridge.