There are many stories we have told before, including the one about Guillaume Gonnet. For those that haven’t run across this before, we’ll retell the story. Guillaume Gonnet is the name of one of the proprietors of Rhone estate that is called Font du Michelle. We have been big fans of this estate for a long time.
The ‘style of the house’ seems to always showcase a certain sappy sexiness to the fruit that makes them particularly engaging in the glass. The family has been in the Rhone Valley for some 400 years and settled this particular spot around 1880. Etienne Gonnet created this estate under the Font de Michelle moniker back in 1950, and it is now run by Guillaume and Bertand Gonnet.
When given the opportunity to move some additional wine through ‘appropriate channels’, Guillaume created the Guillaume Gonnet label. It has been an extremely fruitful source and we have sold a number of different selections based on the remarkable quality and value that this label has delivered. This offering diverts from our usual position thus far with the Gonnet wines as it is white wine! To take it a step further, we don’t ever remember offering a white Vacqueyras, well, ever! Vacqueyras only became its own appellation in 1990, apparently with whites as an approved portion of the mix though they only represent about 3% of the production.
Like we said, we’ve not proffered one before but this little jewel from Guillaume Gonnet definitely made an impression. The Guillaume Gonnet Vacqueyras Blanc La Sauvage 2022 is composed of 70% Grenache Blanc, 15% Viognier, 15% Clairette from 40+year-old vines situated in sand and light clay soils situated on terraces. The term ‘sauvage’ (wild) refers to the open spaces and natural garrigue that surrounds the vineyard. The grapes are destemmed and fermented entirely in stainless steel via natural yeasts. It is not put through malolactic to preserve the wine’s bright supportive acidity.
The Grenache Blanc delivers the thrust with a broad, rich, unctuous palate flashing engaging elements of pear, peach, white flowers and citrus, with some florality and honeyed tones courtesy of the Viognier with the Clairette reenforcing the underlying verve. Plump and textured, this is a terrific white with the dual ability to play with a variety of Asian dishes or provide a compelling choice to just haul off and drink. It provides the kind of profile you get with a Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc at a fraction of the price ($18.98). Simply a very tasty white.