I've long been a fan of the wines of Herve Bizeul and his tiny winery in the Roussillion, Clos des Fees. The winery turns out incredible and age worthy wines, which have always been well regarded by wine insiders, and at the same time, massively overlooked by the wine buying public. It's a sad state where great wines are passed over, and yet, those who know and appreciate well made, handcrafted and amazing wines tend to find them.
Such is the case for the 2013 Domaine Le Clos des Fees Grenache Blanc Vieilles Vignes which I found on the wine list at Le Diplomate in Washington, D.C. The list is full of gems, but like so many lists, there's always a hidden gem, priced fairly. In this case, the Grenache Blanc was priced at 2x retail and given it's virtually unavailable in the U.S., it's a steal on a list anywhere.
The wine is classic Grenache Blanc in style, with 10 percent of Grenache Gris added in to provide some richness and flinty flavor. It's loaded with fruit, has a rich, dry taste and is crystalline in color. On the palate flavors of limestone, green citrus lime, bright lemon zest, crispy apples and bright peach all give it an awesome appeal.
Finding the wines of Le Clos des Fees in the USA is never easy. Finding them on the lists of restaurants, always a welcome surprise. And, this wine, well, let's just say, at the end of dinner, not a drop was left.