20 000 Lieux Sous les Mers 2024 Combel-La-Serre | Southwest

Combel la Serre 's 20,000 Lieux sous les Mers (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea) is a plot-based cuvée that goes against the grain, born of the free and curious intuition of Sophie and Julien Ilbert. In Cahors, in the South-West of France, land of Malbec par excellence, the idea of plantingAlbariño - an Atlantic grape variety of Galician origin - might seem far-fetched. And yet, it's in this discrepancy that this cuvée finds its finest expression. The story begins on the heights of the Causse, in a small, windswept, west-facing plot, where freshness and light are balanced with rare elegance.

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin : With 20,000 Lieux sous les Mers, Combel la Serre has created a rare and singular white. It has the clarity and precision found in great limestone terroirs, with a vibrant energy that doesn't cheat. This wine has it all: freshness, uprightness, depth too. It's an unvarnished Albariño, rooted in the South-West, but looking far ahead. The offbeat choice of the Albariño grape makes perfect sense when tasted: it brings that saline vibrancy, that lively intensity, and carries high the identity of the Causse.

On the nose, the wine evokes an irresistible freshness of lemon zest, white pear and lemon blossom. This pure aromatic framework is underscored by a very fine saltiness. A vegetal, almost eucalyptus-like touch rounds out this airy bouquet. The whole is subtle, precise and invigorating.

The palate confirms this impression of pure élan. It starts with a frank, chiselled attack, then rounds out with a slightly denser, delicate body. Continuous mineral energy with delicious saline accents. The finish is long, fresh, clean and uncluttered. It leaves the palate alert and the lasting memory of an auteur white.