Wine of the Week: 2008 Moulin de Gassac Vin de Pays de l’Herault ‘Guilhem’ Blanc

2008 Moulin de Gassac Vin de Pays de l’Hérault “Guilhem” Blanc

The wines from the Guibert family’s Mas de Daumas Gassac were among the first to show what great wines could be made in the Languedoc region of France when that area began to come back into favor in the 1980s. The wines from the estate are haunting — and expensive. But the Guiberts also have a much less expensive wine called Moulin de Gassac made with the local cooperative in nearby Sète. The white, a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Clairette and Grenache Blanc, comes from 25- to 50-year-old organically farmed vines, and its vinification is followed carefully by the family. The name “Guilhem” refers to the patron saint of the area and to the hilltop village of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert.

For about $10, Moulin de Gassac “Guilhem” Blanc is a terrific summer white — dry, aromatic and expressive of the stony terroir of the Languedoc. Have it with peel ‘n’ eat shrimp, steamed clams or mussels, grilled fish or light pasta dishes.

The 2009 is just coming on the shelves now too. You can also find Moulin de Gassac rosé and rouge at basically the same price.

— S. Irene Virbila

Region: Languedoc/Roussillon, France

Price: About $10

Style: Aromatic and dry

What it goes with: Shrimp, steamed clams and mussels, grilled fish, pasta

Where to find it: Du Vin Wine & Spirits in West Hollywood, (310) 855-1161, https://www.du-vin.com; Le Petit Vendome Wine & Spirits in Pasadena, (626) 396-9234, https://www.lepetitvendome.com; Mission Wines in South Pasadena, (626) 403-9463, https://www.missionwines.com; Silverlake Wine in Los Angeles, (323) 662-9024, https://www.silverlakewine.com; the Wine Country in Signal Hill, (562) 597-8303, https://www.thewinecountry.com; and various Whole Foods locations.