Wine of the week: Domaine de Pouy 2016

Forget the snide comments, and enjoy the Domaine de Pouy for the easy drinking value it delivers

Gascon wine, from the southwest of France, gets so little respect in the U.S. that a well known sommelier once asked me why I wasted my time with it. His loss, I suppose; witness the Domaine de Pouy.

One reason for this ambivalence is the ugni blanc grape, central to much Gascon wine. The Italians, who call the grape trebbiano, have not always done it well. Hence, wines like the Domaine de Pouy ($10, purchased, 10.5%) are lumped into a category that they don’t deserve. It also doesn’t help that many Gascon wines use colombard, best known in this country for its role in poorly made, huge boxes of sweet wine.

But neither is a problem with Gascon wine, and I have tasted dozens. This vintage of the Domaine de Pouy is less citrusy (though still noticeably lemony), which I prefer. That means it’s less like sauvignon blanc and more like traditional Gascon wine, with that refreshing white grapiness and almost appley flavor.

Plus, at 10.5% alcohol, it gives new meaning to the phrase “easy to drink.” Chill this, drink it on its own or with any kind of salad or grilled vegetables, and enjoy.

Imported by Domaine Select