Duc de Morny Picpoul de Pinet

Cave de l'Ormarine is an award-winning co-operative which produces wines from the tiny Pinet de Picpoul appellation in the Herault. The Ormarine cellar was established in 1922 when vignerons from Pinet joined forces and formed a winegrowers' association. Today, the Cave de l'Ormarine is a conglomeration of five separate co-operatives from across the Herault, each with their own specific terroirs and styles of wine. It is proud to have 470 members farming more than 2,500 hectares of vines.

Its flagship Picpoul wines are fresh and terroir-driven, and hugely influenced by both the Mediterranean Sea and the Etang de Thau, which act as a thermal regulator for the vineyards. In fact, it is said of Picpoul that, "Son terroir, c'est la mer (Its terroir is the sea).

"Cave de l'Ormarine has made significant investment in its winery, and prides itself on the high quality standard and traceability of its grapes.

Cave de LOrmarine attaches great importance to the protection of its environment and its vineyards. From 2013, its members set up a pheromone-based mating-disruption programme to naturally eliminate insect pests from the vines without chemical treatments. As a co-operative, it has decided to move its vineyards towards organic farming. Some of its members have been doing this since 2011, already allowing it to offer a range of wines sourced from certified organic grapes.

Cave de lOrmarine obtained Terra Vitis certification in 2018, highlighting its involvement in sustainable and integrated viticulture and its respect for nature, humans and wine. Furthermore, since December 2016, it has been certified as IFS FOOD Version 6.1 (International Featured Standards), an internationally standardised framework for food quality and safety management.

Picpoul De Pinet,

Cave de l'Ormarine's vineyards lie at approximately 40 metres above sea level on a chalky clay plateau, rich in Cretaceous limestone and quartz. The vineyards lie to the North of the Lac de Thau and slope towards it. Ormarine's head winemaker Cyril Payon makes this Duc de Morny cuvee with a premium selection of grapes from 15+ year old vines, harvested at night to retain their aromatic freshness.

Grapes are de-stemmed and macerated on their skins followed by a fifteen-day fermentation without malolactic fermentation.

Vibrant and fresh, a perfect Picpoul!

Gently perfumed, ripe melon fruit and fresh citrus on the nose. The palate is ripe but retains excellent freshness, balanced by a touch of white pepper spice that is very typical of its grape variety. Deliciously long, the finish shows bright fruit and a clean, saline/mineral edge.

Picpoul vines grow just inland from the Étang de Thau, home to southern Languedoc's famous oyster and mussel beds. Along the coast you'll find cabins where locals gather to feast on mussels or 'huitres braisees' (oysters cooked over a fire pit) which are perfect with a glass of Picpoul de Pinet.