Lesser known French Varieties, what should I have had in the line up that I missed?

WINE TALK
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Last night I taught a class with a theme of Lesser Known French Varieties. The wines are below, and the class went well, but for one reason or another I chose some grapes that are not truly of French origin. Mourvèdre is really Spanish, TIbouren is thought to be from Mesopotamia, but even if that isn’t definitive, it was in Italy as Rossese di Dolceacqua before it was in Provence and Sylvaner is presumed to be from Romania.

I considered a handful of wines from other grapes, such as Altesse, Aligote, Jacquère, Marsanne, Melon de Bourgogne, Mondeuse, Roussanne, Savagnin, and Sciaccarellu (really Italian as well) but trying to hit a particular cost, quality, flow and a few specific styles lead me to go with the lineup below instead of using those grapes.

What do you think I missed (maybe from the above list of grapes, or something I haven’t mentioned) that you feel really shouldn’t be ignored? And why?

2024 Domaine de Castelnau Picpoul de Pinet L’Etang (Picpoul)
2023 Domaine de Bellegarde Jurancon Pierre Blanche (Petit & Gros Manseng)

2022 Mann - Vignoble des 3 Terres Sylvaner ‘Mouton Bleu’ (Sylvaner)
2022 Henry Marionnet Domaine de la Charmoise La Pucelle de Romorantin (Romorantin)

2017 Clos Cibonne Cotes de Provence Cuvee Speciale Tibouren Speciale des Vignettes Rose (Tibouren)

2019 Joseph Dorbon Arbois Rouge Trousseau Vieilles Vignes (Trousseau)
2022 Vignerons Les Matheny Arbois Poulsard (Poulsard)

2020 Chateau Pradeaux Bandol Rouge (Mourvedre)

2016 Chateau Bouscasse Madiran Vielles Vignes (Tannat)

David Ramnoux Pineau des Charentes (Ugni Blanc, Colombard, and Semillion)

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Cinsault or Counoise
Clairette Blanche

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Pineau d’Aunis and Chasselas

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Seconding Chasselas.
Would’ve added Savagnin because I find it to have a very special thing going.
Grolleau perhaps?

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Won’t help with your cost but a 100% Petit Meslier champagne could be fun and add a bubbly to the lineup. Although it is a crossbreed of Savagnin.

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I’m completely unfamiliar, and now very intrigued. Have you had the one from Laherte?

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I am far from expert on this and my sample size is small, but other varieties that I have enjoyed (or at least found interesting!) include:
Terret Gris/Blanc (e.g. 2019 La Font des Ormes Terret Bourret Vieilles Vignes, France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Vin de Pays de Caux - CellarTracker)
Mondeuse (e.g. 2023 Domaine Jean-François Maréchal Mondeuse Vin de Savoie Désir des Ducs, France, Savoie, Vin de Savoie - CellarTracker)
Altesse (e.g. 2021 Domaine Jean-François Maréchal Roussette de Savoie Altesse de Beauregard, France, Savoie, Roussette de Savoie - CellarTracker)

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Gros Plant (Folle Blanche) ?

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Cahors and malbec. If possible, try to track down a bottle of Clos de Gamot Cahors Cuvée des Vignes Centenaires

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Depends if you mean ‘lesser known’ to the casual public or to wine geeks. Many of the grapes in this thread strike me as pretty common, at least in wine geek circles. And even though Cahors is not a trendy name, malbec is also pretty well known to the casual public via Argentina.

If you want grapes that people may not have even heard of, the southwest of France is a great hunting ground for things like Mauzac (all the variants), Duras, Prunelart, Ondenc, Braucol/Fer Savadou, and of course Plageoles is your man here, available in the US.

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Grenache and Carignan… Blanc and Gris.

There’s four for you.

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It’s a safe assumption that the average guest at a wine shop is not as well versed as we are, start at that premise.

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100% this. Also, Grenache Blanc a “lesser known” variety? Lol

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This isn’t mean to be lesser known by your standards.

Correct. A few of, and not all, had heard of Mourvedre, and I think someone had heard of Tannat prior. Knowingly or not, most of them have tasted Mourvedre either in GSM blends or perhaps mono-varietal as Monastrell, without knowing it was the same.

Otherwise none of them had any of the grapes in the class, and likely not much of the ones mentioned so far by others.

Though Malbec is not something I would have considered lesser known, Cahors would have been a fun add as the class likely would have been surprised by it and learned quite a bit about what the grape can do.

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Domaine des Cassagnoles Gros Manseng Côtes de Gascogne Reserve Selection

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No I haven’t unfortunately. I’ve tried the Bergère as we sell their champagnes.

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There is no greater QPR than Pepiere.

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Mondeuse from Savoie

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Quenard Chignin Jacquere is good qpr.

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