Domaine Felines Jourdan Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Pear, pomelo, and fresh lemon open with vivid clarity, followed by a subtle saline and aniseed edge. 2024 Domaine Felines Jourdan Picpoul de Pinet blends Piquepoul from three estate terroirs surrounding the Thau Lagoon, where Mediterranean sunshine is moderated by cool marine air and nighttime humidity. Direct pressing, cool stainless steel fermentation, and fine-lees aging preserve the freshness and textural balance that define Claude Jourdan’s approach to this historic coastal variety.

Product Details:

• Winemaker: Claude Jourdan
• Grapes: 100% Piquepoul
• Farming: Reasoned agriculture with an emphasis on environmental stewardship
• Vineyard Source: Félines, Les Cadastres, and La Coulette estate parcels
• Soil: Limestone and clay; chalk and pebbles; red soils with sandy gravel over sandstone
• Elevation: 2 to 80 meters
• Aspect: Eastern exposure at La Coulette
• Pressing: Direct pressing
• Fermentation: Temperature-controlled stainless steel at 16 to 18 degrees Celsius
• Aging: Ten weeks on fine lees
• Cellaring: Up to five years

Sensory Description:

Bright gold with green highlights, the wine opens with pear, citrus peel, and pomelo before developing notes of preserved lemon and peach. The palate is fresh and direct, with Piquepoul’s naturally lively acidity balanced by moderate breadth and fine-lees texture. A saline mineral line retains focus through the mid-palate, while subtle aniseed and citrus-pith notes shape a persistent, gently rounded finish.

Awards & Accolades:

• Silver and 91 Points: Decanter World Wine Awards 2025

Winemaker's Background:

The Jourdan family’s winegrowing history in the Languedoc begins with Gilbert and Jany Jourdan, who worked with vines and table grapes from the 1940s. Their sons Michel and Serge acquired Domaine de Félines in 1983, establishing the modern estate beside the Thau Lagoon. Michel’s wife, Marie-Hélène, became one of the area’s early female winemakers, overseeing vinification while Serge managed the vineyards. Their daughter Claude Jourdan joined the domaine in 1995 and gradually succeeded her mother in the cellar. She now leads the estate, overseeing its vineyards, vinification, and commercial direction. The property works across three contrasting terroirs within the Picpoul de Pinet area: the low-lying Félines parcels beside the lagoon, the stony plateau of Les Cadastres, and the higher, forest-sheltered slopes of La Coulette. Fruit from all three sites is combined in the Cuvée Classique to balance coastal freshness, aromatic expression, and palate depth.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve chilled at 8 to 10 degrees Celsius in a medium-sized white wine glass to emphasize its citrus aromas, saline freshness, and fine-lees texture. Pair with oysters, shellfish, sushi, grilled prawns, scallops, lobster, grilled fish, fresh goat cheese, or traditional dishes from Sète such as tielle, stuffed mussels, cuttlefish rouille, and monkfish bourride.