PIERRE BONIFACE 2008 APREMONT DE SAVOIE
This exceedingly clean wine is a true ‘wine drinker’s wine” in that it comes from a grape, Jacquerre that’s indigenous to France’s Alpine regions. Weightless in the glass, the wine focuses pristine flavors of succulent grapefruit as well as rocks and minerals galore. Bone-dry and slightly spritzy, it’s perfect for fresh water seafood!
CHARDONNAY 2007 ARDECHE LOUIS LATOUR
Crisp, clean and delicious with outstanding complexity for the price, Latour’s Ardeche delivers a basket full of sundry autumn apple and dried orchard fruit flavors. Refreshing and invigorating, here’s the perfect after work “pick-me-up” that delivers way beyond the wine’s meager price point. No oak or butter, just a delightful glass of Chardonnay at your disposal that’s perfect for snackies and light hors d’oeuvres!
COUSSERGUES 08 CHARDONNAY/VIOGNIER VIN DE PAYS
This delightful white from the south of France is the kind of wine you would order by the carafe at a sidewalk café along the Mediterranean coast. This crisp, fresh, lively aromatic white is perfect for poolside sipping or with lighter fish or chicken dishes as Spring finally arrives.
ROBERT PARKER 90 POINTS- " My favorite is the medium-bodied, dry, fresh, lively 2008 Chardonnay/Viognier (a 50-50 blend). Exotic tropical fruit, honeysuckle, and floral undertones offer a lovely aromatic display. All four of these offerings are crisp, fresh, lively, aromatic whites that are best consumed over the next 6-12 months."
D'AUPILHAC 2009 LOU MASET
"Since its arrival three weeks ago, this has been a favorite around the house, and it is fun (at least to me) to answer the question, Why? 1. Its pleasures are so accessible. 2. The flavors are quite Mediterranean, and at home we do a lot of Mediterranean-style cooking. 3. It is medium-bodied, yet still seems rich and meaty." Kermit Lynch Importer
DOMAINE DES PERSENADES 2009
VIN DE PAYS CÔTES DE GASCOGNE BLANC
It’s very rare that we encounter a wine that so decisively exceeds our expectations, and generates such unanimous enthusiasm from our wine staff, that when we tasted this little jewel from Domaine des Persenades, we knew right away we had our Wine of the Month and snatched up everything we could get our hands on.
Domaine des Persenades, presided over by Christian Marou, has been a family domaine since 1650. Primarily a producer of fine Armagnac (south-western France’s famous brandy), the estate has, in recent years, increasingly turned its attention toward wine as the consumption of Armagnac (like other spirits) has diminished in France. The result has been the issuance of some of the region’s best wines, which show an uncommon sense of style, concentration and clarity of
purpose.
Composed of the classic Armagnac varietals Ugni Blanc and Colombard, the 2009 Domaine des Persenades VdP Cotes de Gasgone displays an unusually floral and beguiling scent of heirloom citrus, stone fruits, tea and blossoms. On the palate, the delivery is dry, crisp and invigorating, proffering yet more citrus, stone fruits and tea, which converge harmoniously as it finishes long, clean and refreshingly tangy. A perfect fair-weather quaffer and versatile companion for food, this refreshing white is a simply remarkable value at just $8.95!
DOMAINE DES LAURIERS 2009 PICPOUL DE PINET COTEAUX DE LANGUEDOC
We have been waiting for this Domaine's new release , and are happy to say
It is another winner. Domaine des Lauriers is located in the commune of Castelnau de Gurs, which is part of the higher, northernly part of the AC winegrowing area, and is in the process of becoming a "cru village" . The
vines are located on a hillside at about 250 metres above sea-level. They benefit from a Mediterranean climate and significant differences between
day and night temperatures in August and September, thus providing the wines with a remarkable aromatic freshness. Night harvesting ensures a perfect balance and preserves all the aromas found in the wine. The intense nose is dominated by exotic fruits and white peach. The palate is fresh and complex. The fleshy mouth feel leads into a soft finish of exotic fruits.
This wine is a great match for any maritime meal.
DOMAINE FERRER RIBIERE 2009 LE "F" BLANC
80% MUSCAT 20% GRENACHE BLANC
Fresh, spices, marked by the Muscat grape. Lively and balanced. Good structure. It accompanies fish, shellfish and cheese.
Perfect for an aperitif. Wine of the week! La Times food Section July 1st 2010 S. Irene Virbila
DOMAINE GAVOTY 2008 CLARENDON BLANC
"This blanc has an attractive lemony, floral bouquet, well proportioned, fleshy flavors, excelent freshness and acidity and seems like the perfect foll for grilled seafood and foul." Robert parker
DOMAINE LECCIA 2007 PATRIMONIO CORSICA WINE ADVOCATE 91 POINTS:"With his initials once again scrawled across the label as the cuvee’s sole means of identification, Leccia’s pure Grenache (officially Vin de Pays) 2007 Y. L. smells richly and alluringly of black tea, licorice, juniper, and black raspberry preserves. Polished in texture and intensely bitter-sweet, its pungently herbal and bracingly saline aspects offer a fascinating foil for rich berry fruit and dark chocolate. The finish is like some refreshing yet irremovable sap. This will be terrific with all manners of grilled meats and who knows what else. Given how good the 2004 tastes today, clearly a few years’ bottle age need not be avoided." David Schildknecht
LA ROQUE 2008 PIC ST LOUP ROUGE
Château la Roque is located in the region of Pic St. Loup in the village of Fontanes. The Château dates to the 8th century, when Benedictine monks wrote of its importance as a crossroads for travelers. The Roque brothers gained ownership of the castle in 1259, and planted vines on the surrounding slopes. Today, the domaine is owned by Jack Boutin, who employs the philosophy that wine should be made as naturally as possible. He uses no chemical fertilizers and no insecticides or pesticides.
The wine is vinified in a traditional manner, fermented in stainless steel tanks, and left on its skins for 20-30 days after fermentation. The wines are aged in barrel and are not filtered before bottling.
"The Pic St. Loup rouge is the one I get most excited about. But it is also the perfect wine for teetotalers because you can enjoy it just by gazing at it. What an incredible color! Then the bouquet: deep, ripe, luscious cassis fruit topped with violets and a touch of oak. Full-bodied. Good firm tannins. Long and harmonious. A red you will love to drink." Kermit Lynch
CHATEAU DE LANCYRE 2007 "LA COSTE D'ALEYAC" PIC ST LOUP
The good news the Languedoc today, there is far less bland Chardonnay and Merlot coming from the region, and an emergence of quality producers like Lancyre producing very interesting wines from traditional Mediterranean varieties. "La Coste d'Aleyrac" is Lancyre's entry level cuvee with 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, and 10% Carignan. Pic St. Loup sub-zone is a mountain plateau sitting at 1,500 feet, surrounded by mountains on three sides. Daytime temperatures are just as warm as elsewhere in the Languedoc, but in the evening cold air descends from the surrounding peaks. The result is a longer, slower ripening cycle; more acidity and perfume; and more meaty-smoky-herbal qualities in the Syrah hinting at Côte Rôtie and Northern Rhône styles. If you are paying attention to the Languedoc these days, you will see there are more wines like this from promising sub-zones-there really is a "there, there" in parts of the Languedoc. The Wine Advocate Notes: "The Lancyre 2007 Coteaux du Languedoc Pic Saint-Loup La Coste d'Aleyrac is full of ripe black fruits to be sure, but offers more herbal, carnal, and mineral dimensions than the corresponding 2006. . . Look for this exceptional value to offer pleasure for another 3-4 years." (90-91pts)
LE CLOS 2007 DOMAINE SAINTE EUGEINE
When we tasted this silky and succulent conundrum of a wine there were only 20cs available in California. We took them all without hesitation. Domaine Sainte Eugenie is an 800 year old estate in the Corbières AOC near Narbonne on the western crescent edge of the French Mediterranean. While it is grown in a traditional appellation, “Le Clos” breaks the appellation rules blending traditional old vine Carignan and Grenache with 45% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Eugenie’s Carignane is always good and lends raspberry zinger type fruit with touches of peppermint and spice while the Merlot and Cabernet add an intriguing nose that importer Robert Kacher describes as “Refined oak fragrance with hints of incense, spices (nutmeg, clove, ginger), anise, autumn woods and tobacco.” While in a blind tasting, we might be more likely to believe the wine was from Argentina rather than France, the winning formula of a friendly price and pure deliciousness is present in abundance in the Sainte Eugenie “Le Clos.”
This wine displays an attractive raspberry red color with hints of garnet. Its nose is lively and complex, with notes of red and black fruits. Refined oak fragrance with hints of incense, spices (nutmeg, clove, ginger), anise, autumn woods and tobacco. It is very soft on the palate, with a fresh, tangy acidity. Le Clos shows a wonderful balance. It is well-structured yet elegant, with fine tannins.
LOUIS EUGENE 2004 CANTO PEBRE
The name of this wine is classically Paul in its puckish play on “Cantaussel”, the name of a neighbouring domaine in the Minervois. But the wine inside the bottle is no joke at all – from 100% Carignan, it demonstrates once and for all to doubters that Carignan has the potential for real nobility in the Languedoc. Perhaps the suggestiveness of the name contributes to the pepperiness of the nose, but, whatever the source, peppery it is. In the mouth, the wine shows the classic briary tones of Carignan, allied to a sweet and supple texture that makes it all too easy to swallow, leaving a haunting memory behind. Truly beautiful and original wine, and an exceptional value. Very limited quantity.
LOUIS EUGENE 2005 VIN BLANC
From a unique blend of Marsanne, Sauvignon Blanc, and Grenache Blanc, this unique white resembles a Bandol Blanc crossed with a Sancerre, with perhaps a dollop of Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc added just to confuse you. While its pale color belies its origin in the 2005 vintage (which cannot, of course, be stated on the label), it is resolutely stony and dry, fresh and incredibly nuanced - orchard fruits, citrus, and herbs work beautifully in concert. And with just a touch of musk and nuttiness from cask aging lending complexity and nuance, this is a formidable wine that will actually improve with another 2-5 years in bottle, although it shows beautifully now. Limited quantity.
MAS DE BRESSADES 2008 ROUSANNE/VIOGNIER
ROBERT PARKER 89 POINTSA slightly waxier, more honeyed style, with loads of peaches and tropical fruits, is the 2008 Roussanne/Viognier. This wine, aged partly in barrel and partly in tank, is an exuberant, seductive style of dry white to drink over the next year as well.
Mas des Bressades has the same proprietor as Mas Carlot, with the husband and wife team of Cyril Mares and Nathalie Blanc running both estates, the husband concentrating on Mas des Bressades and the wife on Mas Carlot. These are consistently well-made wines that sell for a song, and shrewd buyers have been searching out this excellent estate as well as its sibling, Mas Carlot, for many years.
CHATEAU ST JAQUES D'ALBAS 2008 MINERVOIS "CLOS GARRIC"
The South of France continues to provide us with great values, as you
will discover with this Syrah /Carignan/ Grenache blend from the AOC Minervois.
The semi-arid Mediterranean climate is a prefect host to Syrah (60%), Carignan (20%), and Grenache (10%). The vines are an average age of 30 years, and are farmed under the "Cousinie" Method (organic manure and
selected mineral sprays ). The wine-making philosophy is to respect the natural environment of the domain, while using modern technology to permit a controlled expression of the "terroir" in the wines. Typical for
the region, this wine offers ripe and spicy dark fruit notes . It is medium bodied, with silky tannins and a long lasting blackberry finish. Match this tasty wine with Barbecues, meat dishes and ripe cheeses.
