Listel Wines

Listel comes from the coastal Languedoc in the south of France, where the vines grow in sand rather than clay or limestone.

Why the Sand Matters

Sand holds and reflects heat, which ripens the fruit more fully than the latitude alone would. That is why these wines taste warmer and rounder than their modest price suggests — more ripe fruit, less austerity.

The Camargue sand has a second claim to fame: phylloxera cannot survive in it. When the louse destroyed most of European viticulture in the 1800s, the sandy coastal vineyards were among the few that came through.

What We Stock

• Merlot — the softest. Plum and blueberry with a thread of cinnamon behind it.
• Cabernet Sauvignon — the most structured. Black fruit, spice and cassis, mouth-filling with real length.
• Chardonnay — red apple and pear on the nose, moving to pineapple and melon. Riper than a northern French white, without New World oak.

Which One Should You Buy?

• For a weeknight or someone new to red: Merlot.
• For steak and richer dishes: Cabernet Sauvignon.
• For seafood: Chardonnay.

Serving in Philippine Weather

Reds at 16 to 18°C — twenty minutes in the ref. Chardonnay at 8 to 10°C, straight from the ref.

Food Pairing

Merlot with pork adobo and roast chicken; Cabernet with lechon kawali and grilled beef; Chardonnay with inihaw na isda and garlic butter shrimp.

For adults of legal drinking age only. Please enjoy responsibly.