Pineau des Charentes

Pineau des Charentes

What it is

Pineau is a mistelle, not a wine: unfermented Charentais grape must muted with young Cognac, so the sugar in the bottle is grape sugar that never met a yeast. Legend has it a sixteenth-century vigneron poured must into a cask still holding eau-de-vie and left the mistake in the cellar for years before tasting it.

In the kitchen

In a shellfish sauce add it early and give it a full minute of heat — the young Cognac tastes raw if it goes in at the end. Once opened it fades fast: refrigerate, and drink or cook it within a fortnight.

Goes with

Cantaloupe melon Foie gras Scallop Langoustine Butter Shallot

Same species

Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale DOP Amontillado Armagnac Banyuls Brandy de Jerez Champagne vinegar

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