More About Picardin

Picardin is a little-known white varietal that would have disappeared but for its inclusion as one of the 13 permitted Châteauneuf-du-Pape varietals. However, there is some doubt of its existence at all. Ampelographers have not been able to find an individual variety corresponding to what growers call Picardin; samples usually turn out to be either Clairette or Bourbelenc. Despite that, it is recognized as a separate varietal in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and is typically described as fairly colorless with an agreeable light musky note.