2022 Le Pal Grenache Gris VdP de l'Hérault, Boulevard Napoléon

• Style: Dry, mineral-driven rosé with texture
• Taste: Lime zest, white peach, hazelnut, subtle smoke
• Food: Seafood, poultry, spicy Asian, salads, white fish
• Occasion: Sunday lunch, date night, aperitivo
• Serve: 10–12°C, drink now through 2028
• ABV: 14.5%

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

The 2022 Le Pal opens with lime zest and white peach, layered with hazelnut and a whisper of smoke from 18 months in French oak (20% new). On the palate, that maturation gives real texture and body, but the wine's natural acidity cuts cleanly through with bright mineral precision. Pink-skinned Grenache Gris from 56-year-old bush vines on the stony terraces of La Livinière brings perfume and remarkable concentration—a wine that sits comfortably between weightlessness and substance, refreshing but never thin.

The Winery — Boulevard Napoléon

Named for the street where the winery stands in La Livinière, Minervois, Boulevard Napoléon is a partnership between restaurant owner Trevor Gulliver and winemaker Benjamin Darnault. Working vineyards in the high hills where sandstone and clay soils favour mineral, vibrant expression, they pursue a philosophy that lets the varietal speak. Hand-harvested fruit was whole-bunch pressed and fermented in used oak for three weeks—a gentle touch avoiding excess new wood influence. The 2022 vintage proved kind to these old vines: spring rains recharged the soil, early heat prompted flowering, and although summer required careful canopy management to protect against sunburn, those deep roots delivered fruit of serious quality. Each wine is a classic expression of its varietal, yet retains the vibrancy and definition that marks Boulevard Napoléon out from the broader south-of-France crowd.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Serve this between 10–12°C and drink now through 2028. The wine's bright acidity (5.8g/L) keeps it lively through a meal, making it perfect for herb-crusted seabass, goat's cheese with thyme, or roasted chicken. It pairs beautifully with shellfish, spicy Asian cuisine, and light salads—ideal for Sunday lunch or a date night aperitivo. Vegan-friendly and mineral-driven, it sits perfectly alongside our broader Fruity & Aromatic White Wine selection from France, and represents a compelling pivot point beyond the usual Picpoul or Vermentino. Explore the distinctive character of Languedoc-Roussillon whites through this serious, dry expression.