The Languedoc has the perfect climate to make the kind of whites more wine drinkers are seeking – those that naturally have more body, weight and texture, without the use of oak barrels.

The 2022 Corteza blanc is the result of second harvest of Domaine La Lauzeta’s biodynamic and dry farmed Vermentino vines. The drought in Saint-Chinian meant that only 800 bottles were made. It was fermented in a ceramic vessel, with weekly battonage (stirring of the yeast cells) to build texture and body.

The final wine has a pleasing balance between delicacy and weight, and has restrained but intriguing and varied aromatics – lemon and white peach, an undertone of almond, and hints of wet stone, which speak of the schist soil on which the vines are grown.