WINE OF THE WEEK: Éminence de Bijou Pinot Noir 2023, Haute Vallée de l'Aude, Languedoc, France

£14.75/£12.75, Sainsbury's

If you didn’t know, you might be hard-pushed to say where this Pinot comes from – the upper Aude Valley is not the best known of regions – but you would be having a bad day if you didn’t recognise the grape variety. It’s Pinot Noir to a T.

The colour is towards the deeper end of the Pinot spectrum and the fruit is all sweetness and light – glistening cherries scattered with a few raspberries and a dash of oak spice. The texture is silky and svelte and the tannins are delicate and as unobtrusive as they should be. Pure Pinot Noir.

Haute Vallée de l’Aude is inland Languedoc in the foothills of the Pyrenees and the grapes for Éminence de Bijou Pinot Noir come from just outside the Limoux appellation, from selected high-elevation vineyards (400–450m) on calcareous clay and limestone soils.

Climate-wise, there’s a wide diurnal temperature range which slows ripening, enhancing flavour development and retaining freshness.

After pre-fermentation maceration and fermentation, the 2023 was aged for six months in a combination of conical wooden vats and large (365l) French oak barrels.

Éminence de Bijou Pinot Noir is suitable for vegetarians and vegans and goes well with mushroom dishes – tarts, gratins, pasta, risotto – and with roast or barbecued vegetables (roots and Mediterranean). It can be paired with fish such as salmon, seared tuna and meaty sea bream and is also good with roast chicken, duck and quail, prosciutto, duck prosciutto and pâté de campagne. 13%.

Éminence de Bijou Pinot Noir 2023, Haute Vallée de l’Aude, Languedoc, France

£14.75, or £12.75 with Nectar and further 25% off any 6, Sainsbury’s

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