Archive for the ‘French Wine’ Category
Last Thursday I participated in a tasting of four Beaujolais wines all of which were geared towards the summer months and BBQ. Given my general lack of experience with French wines (something that I’m trying to remedy), I quickly jumped at the opportunity to participate in this tasting. After grilling up some sausages to share with my wife as we did the tasting, we got down to the important part of the evening – tasting the wine.
2010 Domaine des Terres Dorees
If there was one word to describe this wine it would be “balanced”. A 100% Chardonnay, I got tropical notes from the nose to the palate, with a hint of acid in the mouth that I found made it nice and clean on the finish. With a SRP of $16, this is a nice all-around wine that doesn’t do any one thing particularly well, but doesn’t really let you down anywhere either.
2010 Domaine du Vissoux, Les Griottes Beaujolais
A rose’ made from 100% Gamay grapes, this wine is a great deck wine. It was arguably the best pairing with the sausages that my wife and I grilled up, with a good balance of dry, crisp flavors of strawberry that made the wine refreshing. A good value at $17.
2009 Domaines des Braves Regnie
This was the favorite of the night for both my wife and I. A light red made with 100% Gamay grapes I got raspberry and hints of licorice and anise on the finish. With no real oak flavor this is an ideal summer red as it’s perfect for pairing with grilled food and is a great value at $15.
2009 Henri Plasse Brouilly
The final wine of the night, and the third 100% Gamay, this was a heavier wine than the previous (which of course makes sense given how the tasting progressed from lightest to fullest) with berry flavors of blueberry and blackberry that was kinda juicy with some oak on the finish that really made me want to throw the BBQ ribs in my fridge on the grill. With a SRP of $17 it wasn’t a bad way to finish off the night of tasting.
I want to thank Discover Beaujolais for hosting the tasting and for sending me the wines for it. I look forward to future tastings because anything I can do to expand my knowledge of French wine is always welcomed. If you’re on Twitter and want to follow future tastings, don’t forget to follow the hashtag #beaujolais.
Varietal: 50% Semillon; 50% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: France – Bordeaux
Cost: $12
Winemaker’s Notes: An elegant pale yellow colour, green at rim, with a nose of white blossom and citrus fruit, these aromas melting into the ample, supple palate. A discreetly fizzy sensation imparts vibrancy and freshness to rich, fleshy extract. Pairs well with chicken and seafood such as shellfish.
My Review: On a recent trip to my local Fresh Market, there was a small selection of wines (2 wines to be specific) being poured. One was a Malbec blend, and the other was the 2010 Sirius Bordeaux Blanc. Impressed enough with it and the price, I grabbed a bottle to take home to my wife. I’m thoughtful that way.
We actually opened the bottle first on Sunday and enjoyed a glass on the deck while getting some sun and reading, but make sure to save some for dinner the next night to pair with some pesto tilapia with risotto and sauteed spinach from the local farmer’s market. On the first day I got a lot of the Sauvignon Blanc aromas that I would expect, lime and grapefruit mostly, and even in the palate at first I started to question whether the bottle was lying to me on it being a 50/50 blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, but instead of the citrusy, acid finish that I’ve come to expect from even the most mellow of Sauvignon Blancs I got a more subtle mineral note that was quite refreshing, especially on a hot afternoon on the deck.
Varietal: Riesling
Region: France – Alsace
Cost: $13.50
Light in the glass with aromas of citrus. Crisp and dry in the mouth with mineral and effervescence on the finish. Pairs well with sushi, sashimi, smoked salmon, BBQ chicken.
Recommendations: When a lot of people see Riesling, they instantly think of sweet. While this is certainly a correct assumption of the Riesling is from Germany, the bottle of 2008 Woelfelin that I opened last night was not. Dry is the quickest way to describe the wine, though certainly not the only. Some citrus on the nose and palate, though with the effervescence, minerality, and a touch of acid it was hard to pick out exact citrus fruits beyond just a general sensation.
Paired with a dinner of dry rubbed BBQ chicken and some risotto, the acid was actually nice, and was in fact balanced by the creaminess of the risotto and the slight heat of the chicken. All said it was a good pairing. Read the rest of this entry »
Varietal: Blended Red Wine – Bordeaux Blend
Region: France
Cost: $12
Medium dark red in the glass with aromas of currant and cherry. Crushed red berries in the mouth with a subtle finish that pairs well with meat dishes.
Recommendations: As you know, I’ve been trying to expand my knowledge of French wines. Because of this, whenever I go and visit my local wine shop I’ve been asking for suggestions on French wine as the owner knows far more about French wine than I do (I can admit my shortcomings). On a recent trip there he suggested the Chateau Grimard Bordeaux and I, like a good wine writer, took him up on his suggestion.
In a rare move, I drank this wine over two days, opening the bottle one night to drink with my dinner, and then finishing it the following evening by itself. The dinner on the first night of tasting consisted of nothing more than some wheat pasta in a chunky red sauce. While it would have been great to do some French cuisine with my French wine, I a) know how to cook, but French cooking isn’t really where my strength lies, and b) wasn’t motivated to do much more than boil water. Read the rest of this entry »
Varietal: Pinot Gris
Region: France
Cost: $16
Light in the glass with aromas and flavors of pear and baked apple. Pairs well with smoked salmon, Peking duck, or mushroom risotto.
Recommendations: Looking to try something new, and having a distinct lack of white wine in the house, my wife and I picked up this bottle after a Friday night tasting at one of our favorite Richmond wine shops. The following day we had the opportunity to open it when we made some shrimp kabobs for dinner. It was a good pairing.
The pear and apple were quite evident on the palate, along with just a hint of sweetness and effervescence on the finish. Normally I would be hit or miss on the sweetness, but the shrimp we grilled was well seasoned and the kabobs also had peppers and onions, so there was a bit of heat to the dish – not to mention some roasted red pepper risotto as a side.
The sweetness of the wine did an excellent job of Read the rest of this entry »
Varietal: 95% Grenache; 5% Mourvedre
Region: Rhone – France
Cost: $20
Deep purple in color with aromas of leather, licorice, berry, and cassis. Earthy flavors with dark berries and a hint of licorice and pepper. Pairs well with pasta bolognese and beef.
Recommendations: French wine is one area where I have a serious weakness in making selections. It’s not that I haven’t enjoyed French wine when drinking it, but only that it wasn’t a region I indulged in when I first got into wine, and as I’ve gotten older and expanded my wine horizons, it’s still been missed in favor of other regions. I’ve decided it’s time to rectify this situation.
During a trip to my local Richmond wine shop for a tasting, I confronted the owner about my problem and asked him to help me. He helped me pick out a couple of bottles, one of which, the 2005 Maison du Midi, was actually on the employee recommended list. Two people recommending a wine to me is usually enough to make me buy it. Read the rest of this entry »
