The Good Wine Guru » French Wine

Beaujolais & BBQ Tasting

George — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:00:09 +0000

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.

Sirius Bordeaux Blanc 2010

George — Tue, 24 May 2011 15:00:25 +0000

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.

The second day, when paired with dinner, the mineral note was more subdued, but the same citrus notes that I’d experienced the day before came out and made a great compliment to our dinner, adding a light note against the richness of the risotto and and the pesto.

My only complaint with this wine was that the mineral note didn’t carry over very well after the bottle had been open for a day (though properly sealed and stored away). That being said, this was a great deck wine for a hot day and a great pairing for some seafood or light hors d’oeuvres during a cocktail party. If you’re looking for a new white wine to try and you’re already a fan of Sauvignon Blanc I would recommend giving this one a try. If you can’t find it near you, follow this link and you should be able to have some shipped to you.

Woelfelin Riesling 2008

George — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 16:00:40 +0000

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. Even after the food was gone the wine wasn’t bad, though I definitely think it is better when paired with food than without as the acid can be a bit overwhelming all by itself with nothing to even it out.

If you’ve only ever had sweet German Riesling, than I definitely recommend giving this bottle a try if for not other reason than to see that there’s a big difference between the regions that make Riesling. I do recommend pairing it with something, though pretty much anything light should be enough to help out with the acid.

Chateau Grimard Bordeaux 2008

George — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:00:03 +0000

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.

That being said, the Chateau Grimard was a nice compliment to the dinner. The currant and cherry on the nose carried over to the flavors, and while it wasn’t a big tannic finish, the flavor of the wine was bold enough to not be buried by the tomato sauce I used. Sticking a vacuum seal cork in it and putting it in the fridge, I drank the rest the next day.

By itself, I actually didn’t like the Chateau Grimard as well. That’s not to say that it was bad, but I preferred it with food as to without, which isn’t a bad thing I suppose as I did start drinking it with food. All in all, the Chateau Grimard was another nice step into the world of French wine for me. The pasta dish I paired it with probably wasn’t the best thing to eat with the wine – a coq a vin, lamb dish, or boeuf Bourguignon probably would have been a better pairing, but as I said, boiling water was a trial that day.

I think if I was cooking something more traditionally French I would give this wine another shot, but until that time, I’ll keep trying other French wines.

You can find the 2008 Chateau Grimard Bordeaux here if it’s not available near you.

Helfrich Pinot Gris Vin d’Alsace 2007

George — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:00:48 +0000

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 cutting through the heat of the meal and the effervescence was incredibly refreshing. While I don’t know that I’d drink this wine every day, for a hot day on the deck or for pairing with spicy food, it’s definitely one I’ll keep on my radar when I want to change it up from my usual spicy food pairing of Viognier.

One worth checking out if you eat a lot of spicy food or if you’re looking for a deck wine as we finish up the summer.

Maison du Midi Plan de Dieu Cotes du Rhone Villages 2005

George — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:00:44 +0000

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.

My wife and I paired the Maison du Midi with a simple dinner of pasta bolognese, and we both said the same thing about it. Earthy. Aromas of licorice, creme de cassis, and leather blended well with earthy flavors of dark fruit and a hint of cassis and pepper. I very much enjoyed the wine partly because it paired quite well with the meal, and also because I’m a fan of earthy wines.

This is the second Rhone I’ve had in recent months, and it’s quickly becoming a region I’m intrigued by. While I’m still learning about French wine, I suspect it’s going to be an education that I enjoy. I very much enjoyed the 2005 Maison du Midi and will have to keep it in mind for future purchases.

Guigal Cotes du Rhone Rouge 2006

George — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:00:56 +0000

Varietal: Syrah; Grenache
Region: France – Rhone
Cost: $20.50

Red and black fruit aromas dominate the nose with flavors of creme de cassis, herbs, and hints of pepper and spice. Pairs well with roast leg of lamb, ratatouille, grilled meats, grilled vegetables, tomato and cream based pasta dishes, and pizza.

Recommendations: If there’s one area of blatant weakness in my wine knowledge, it’s French wine. It’s not that I haven’t enjoyed it when I’ve partaken in it, it’s simply that I haven’t done enough with it to feel truly comfortable selecting it on my own in a store. Because of that, I was actually quite happy when the International Wine of the Month Club sent me a sample of the Guigal Cotes du Rhone Rouge.

Deep purplish red in the glass, I got some aromas of berry, but the 13.5% alcohol was very prevalent. Paired with a dinner of wheat pasta with tomato sauce and ground Italian sausage, the wine was quite enjoyable. Juicy is the best word I can use to describe it in the mouth, with some of the berry that was on the nose coming through and pairing nicely with the sauce from the pasta.

The Guigal Cotes du Rhone is absolutely a food wine, simply because the juicy sensation that I got while eating my dinner wasn’t quite as enjoyable after the food was gone. That’s not to say that the flavors weren’t still enjoyable, only that I found this wine better when eating something than when not. That being said, I would definitely recommend this for a casual dinner with family and friends as it will pair well with most foods.

Pinot Evil Pinot Noir

George — Thu, 20 May 2010 16:00:45 +0000

Varietal: Pinot Noir
Region: France
Cost: $8-$10

Light in the glass with cherry and plum on the palate. Pairs with most food, especially pizza and grilled meats.

Recommendations: This is not the first time I’ve had Pinot Evil, and had admittedly picked up the bottle in the past simply because of the amusing name and label. That being said, I’ve long been a fan of Pinot Noir and of finding wines that are easy on the budget. This one fits both of those bills.

Now, I’d be lying if I said that the Pinot Evil Pinot Noir had anything more to offer than one note of fruity flavor with a slight lingering taste of alcohol that quickly dissipates, but that wouldn’t convey the true beauty of this wine. It’s an $8 Pinot Noir.

This wine is not going to change your world, it’s not going to change the way you think about Pinot Noir (at least not in a positive fashion), but this is hands down one of the better value wines I’ve found for a night of sitting around watching TV and munching on some delivered pizza. You really can’t beat it.

Factor in that Pinot Evil can also be found in a box for around $23 and you’ve got the makings of a go-to table wine that’s better than the usual cheap Merlot/Cabernet blends you’ll find on the shelves of most of your bigger stores.

Domaine de Villemajou Corbieres 2000

George — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:00:41 +0000

Varietal: Blended Red Wine (Syrah; Carginan; Grenache; Mourvedre)
Region: France
Cost: $41

Deep reddish brown in color and featuring aromas of plum, rose, violets and black fruits. Full-flavored dark fruit on the palate that pairs well with beef, lamb, poultry, or BBQ.

Recommendations: When I got this bottle it almost seemed a shame to open it. A 10 year old bottle of French wine doesn’t exactly find it’s way into my wine cellar every day and I kept trying to think of something special to pair it with. Then I realized that if I kept trying to find something spectacular to enjoy it with the wine was never going to get opened.

Dark reddish-brown in color (I hate saying brown, but the complete lack of purple and the shade of red make it about the only real descriptor I can use), with subtle aromas of fruit and florals, calling this wine full-bodied would be an understatement. The flavors of dark fruit are big and soft at the same time, and the slight tannic finish fades away as the bottle is allowed to open up – not that it needs to much.

Paired with a dinner of pasta and red sauce with some fresh herbs thrown in, the Domaine de Villemajou did a great job of neither overwhelming or being overwhelmed by the meal (I have yet to see anything or anyone be just whelmed). After the meal it was great by itself, being full of flavor, but not demanding food to be enjoyable.

This bottle was described to me as a party wine, and I can see how it would be easy to just keep opening bottles of it while entertaining family and friends. Bold and smooth all at once, this is a great wine for just about any meal and any company. While I can understand that the price point may give the value wine shopper pause, it’s definitely one worth getting for a special occasion.

Special thanks to the International Wine of the Month Club for supplying the wine for this review.

Vin de Savoie Jongieux

George — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:00:03 +0000

Varietal: Jongieux
Region: France
Cost: $11

Light and crisp with aromas of tropical fruit. Green apple on the palate with a slight mineral finish complimented by just a touch of effervescence. Pairs very well with seafood.

Recommendations: I’ll be the first to admit that I had never heard of the Jongieux grape before receiving this bottle, but then I don’t drink a lot of French wine. I was told to pair it with seafood, and so I had to sit on the bottle for a bit while my wife and I got the ingredients together for a shrimp jambalaya that we had been planning for for a while. It was worth the wait.

The wine was light in the glass and the aroma of tropical fruit was present, but very subtle. Crisp and refreshing, it took me a few minutes to put my finger on the flavor, but the green apple I got was very enjoyable, and a perfect pair to the slight mineral finish that the wine offered.

Slightly effervescent, the wine as a whole was a great compliment to the slightly spicy dish of shrimp jambalaya, and would pair well with any well seasoned seafood. I can imagine this as a great compliment to a spicy peanut tilapia dish.

At the end of the day, the real question on any of my reviews is would I drink this again, and in this case – absolutely. At $11 it’s a great value for a good white wine to pair with seafood, and I’d actually pair more for it. Definitely one worth grabbing for your next seafood dinner.

Special thanks to Wine & Beer Westpark for supplying the wine for this review.

Domaine du Grand Chemin Vin de Pays Duche’ d’Uzes