Although I never need an excuse to open a bottle of wine, celebrating Bastille Day with a French rosé is a must! Okay, so I’ve jumped the gun and started the celebration a few days early! Bastille Day is celebrated every year on July 14th. The French call it “Le Quatorze Juillet” or “La Fête Nationale.” In addition to France, many French-speaking regions around the world celebrate this day, including the USA. It is celebrated with parades, fireworks, French food, wine and dancing. Here is a very brief account as to why Bastille Day is such a significant day for France. On July 14th, 1789 a group of revolutionaries stormed the Bastille prison marking the start of the French Revolution. The Bastille was a symbol of the tyrannical rule of the Bourbon monarchy. King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette were overthrown, ending the “Ancien Régime”. By the order of France’s new revolutionary government, the Bastille prison was torn down with the last stone being removed in 1790. And we all know the fate of Marie Antoinette. My “early” celebration began with a rosé from the Côtes de Provence, the largest appellation in Provence, located in southeastern France. The Commanderie De Peyrassol is situated in the Var amid the foothills of the Massif des Maures. Commanderie De Peyrassol was founded by the Knights Templar in the 13th century. The first recorded harvest was in 1256! This domaine has a long and rich history that reads like a novel and is worth perusing on their website. https://www.peyrassol.com The current owner is Philippe Austry who purchased the property in 2001 and lovingly restored and renovated it with the help of his nephew Alban Cacaret, who manages the domaine. The domaine is comprised of 950 hectares of which 93 hectares are under vines. More than ten grape varieties are grown here. The climate is typical Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and mild winters and the soil is a mixture of clay and limestone, with heavy gravel content. Cuvée de la Commanderie Rosé 2018 A.O.P. Côtes de Provence is a beautiful blend of 45% Cinsault, 29% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 6% Rolle, 5% Mourvèdre, Cabernet and Carignan. This wine has a soft peach color with aromas of red berries, salinity and floral. The palate offers strawberry, raspberry, light citrus, salinity and crisp acidity. This is a dry and complex wine that displays elegance and freshness with savory taking the lead over fruit. Serve as an aperitif or pair with seafood, grilled fish, appetizers and light pasta. Alcohol: 12.5% SRP: $20 Whether you’re celebrating, July 4th, Bastille Day or life in general, enjoy it with a glass of this rosé. You’ll thank me for it! Until next time…
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com Today is the summer solstice. It is the first day of summer and the longest day of the year. It is also the shortest night! In celebration of the summer solstice and the promise of many warm days ahead, I opened a bottle of rosé. In the past, I reviewed the 2016 and 2017 vintages of this Ferraton Père & Fils rosé. So, I knew that I was in for a treat. And, I was not disappointed. The Côtes-du-Rhône vineyards, located in Southern France, extend from Vienne to Avignon and include 171 vineyards. The region enjoys a Mediterranean climate conducive to grape growing that also reflects in the characteristics of the wine. The grapes for this particular wine were grown on the right bank of the Rhône in limestone, sand, pebbles and clay soil. Ferraton Père & Fils is a producer and négociant of wine throughout the Rhone Valley. To learn more about this producer, please click ‘Ferraton Père & Fils’ on the menu at right. Ferraton Père & Fils Samorëns Rosé 2018 is a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 20% Cinsault. The color is bright salmon bordering on coral. Lovely aromas of strawberry, peach and a trace of minerality segue onto the palate with white floral notes, cherry, berries and a hint of red ruby grapefruit and citrus zest on the finish This is a lively, dry rosé that exhibits fresh acidity and roundness. Drink as an aperitif or serve with seafood, salads, grilled vegetables and light pasta. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $14 Enjoy “the longest day” and have a great weekend! Until next time…
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com Yes, I have written several stories about wines in a can. It seems that many wine producers are jumping on board with this concept. And, I must admit I have sampled some very good wines in non-glass, all aluminum containers. They are lightweight, convenient to pack in picnic baskets, take to outdoor concerts and serve at barbeques and pool parties. Recently delivered to me were samples of Butternut Chardonnay and Rosé in a can. BNA Wine Group produces Butternut Wines. The company is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee with a presence and partnerships in Napa Valley, CA. BNA Wine Group, founded in 2011, is comprised of three creative men each bringing their own unique talent to the table. They are fourth generation wine distributor John Hooper, second-generation winemaker Tony Leonardi and industry veteran Gary Carr. Their mantra is “discover the right vineyards, retain the natural characters in the grape, coax the best wine into the bottle and then offer the resulting wine at a great value.” I asked what BNA stands for, as it clearly has nothing to do with the names of the trio. BNA is the airport code for Nashville where all three made their connection…no pun intended! All the grapes for Butternut wines are sourced and produced in CA. The grapes are picked in September and early October contingent upon vineyard location and vintage and then immediately brought to the winery for production. I asked Tony to elaborate a bit on the wine production. He said, “Once primary fermentation is complete, or close to being complete, we then inoculate the wine with malolactic cultures. All of our Chardonnays go through 100% malolactic fermentation, but to balance the wine out we also like nice, crisp acidity. Our wine in bottles get 100% new French oak but the canned wines get just a small amount of oak. There is a lot less oxygen in the cans to help interact with the oak undertones. In the cans, oak seems to control aromas and flavors and blocks the freshness of the Chardonnay. We use minimal amounts of sulfur and try to keep the wines as varietally correct as possible.” Butternut Chardonnay is 100% Chardonnay with grapes sourced from California. The color of the wine is pale yellow with lovely aromas of floral, citrus, peach and Honeycrisp apples that segue onto the palate with hints of melon and a creamy mouthfeel. It is nicely balanced with acidity showing through. Alcohol: 13.9% SRP: $6.99 for a 375ml can Butternut Rosé is a blend of 50% Tempranillo and 50% Syrah. Grapes are sourced from the Central Coast of California. The color is dark salmon, bordering on orange. Aromas of floral, honeydew and citrus are subtle and the palate explodes with flavors of raspberry, tangerine, strawberry, red ruby grapefruit and crisp acidity. It is quite refreshing! Alcohol: 11.9% SRP: $6.99 for a 375ml can Butternut wines offer several varietals sourced from vineyards throughout California. Chardonnay, Rosé, and Pinot Noir are available in the can or by the bottle. BNA’s other brand, Humble Pie, offers Cabernet Sauvignon by the bottle only.
These wines are definitely worth checking out! Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com With the forsythia making a splashy show in addition to blooming tulips, hyacinths and daises, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate spring than with a festive bottle of rosé wine. Several months ago I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with Riccardo and Alessandro Pasqua of Pasqua Vigneti é Cantine located in Verona, Italy. If you haven’t read my story about the “Two Brothers of Verona” and their expressive wines, please click on this link to learn about their family history, region and wines. http://thewineknitter.com/1/post/2019/01/day-701-the-two-brothers-of-verona.html My focus today is on Pasqua 11 Minutes Rosé, a beautiful wine to help kick off the spring season. First of all, the bottle is exquisite. The unusual oval shape and an alluring photo of Lesbia draws one’s attention to this bottle of wine, tempting us to partake in its pale pink salmon liquid. Lesbia was the mistress of Catullus, a Roman poet (born in Verona) who dedicated his most famous poem to her, “Odi et Amo” (I hate and I love). The Pasqua family once again takes their passion for wine and combines it with romance and history as seen in their Romeo & Juliet Passione e Sentimento wines. Pasqua 11 Minutes Rosé Trevenezie IGT 2018 is a masterful blend of Northern Italian and International grapes which are harvested from vineyards on the eastern and southern shores of Lake Garda of the Veneto region. The blend of this rosé is 50% Corvina, 15% Syrah, 25% Trebbiano di Lugana and 10% Carmenere. And why is it called “11 minutes” rosé? After harvest, the grapes are gently pressed and with only 11 minutes of skin contact the most noteworthy qualities of the grapes are extracted and the color is obtained. Thanks to the Corvina grapes, this rosé has a powerful floral aroma with delicate notes of strawberry, raspberry, sweet spice and ruby red grapefruit. The palate is rich with strawberry, red berries, hints of pear and traces of nuttiness on the finish. Racy acidity is balanced with a smooth texture. This fresh rosé is definitely a winner whether sipping as an aperitif or pairing with light food. Yum! Alcohol: 12.5% SRP: $20 This is a wonderful wine to drink all year round, but take advantage of the warm weather and bring it along on picnics and savor every sip while enjoying a sunset! Until next time…
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com It’s that time of year again for hearts, flowers and everything pink! Yes, Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. So, to get in the spirit of the holiday and in keeping with the pink theme, I opened up a bottle of rosé from the south of France. Provence is no stranger to winemaking, and most winemakers from this region would agree that Côtes de Provence, the largest appellation here, is the heart of rosé wine production that also makes the vast majority of rosé wine in Provence. Château Montaud is located in the heart of the Maures Mountains on the site of an old Roman villa. As with most wineries in the Côtes de Provence, Château Montaud is family owned. Francois Ravel started the winery in 1964 and today, his grandson Frederic Ravel presides over this 840-acre estate. The warm Mediterranean climate with hot summers, mild winters and low rainfall are ideal for growing grapes. The vines grow on long schist and sandstone terraces with cool breezes that emanate from the Mediterranean Sea. Château Montaud practices sustainable farming and integrated farming techniques, keeping the number of treatments required to a minimum. They grow varietals such as Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Tibouren, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rolle and Chardonnay. Their winemaking techniques encompass advanced technology and traditional winemaking methods. Château Rosé Montaud Côtes de Provence 2017 is a blend of Cinsault, Grenache, Tibouren and Carignan. This aromatic blend is an inviting color of pink salmon with notes of fresh red fruit, strawberry, cherry, cranberry and hints of minerality. The palate is filled with flavors of cherry, strawberry, a trace of pepper and a touch of “the sea”. It is a very refreshing rosé with the perfect balance of acidity, minerality and dryness. Drink as an aperitif or pair with light fare such as seafood, shellfish, cheese, salads and light pasta. Alcohol: 12.5% SRP: $9 Now that I’m getting in the mood for Valentine’s Day, it’s time to decide what sparkling wines to chill! What will you be drinking? Until next time…
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com In August of 2017, I was first introduced to Susana Balbo wines. I was so impressed with this winemaker and her expressive wines that I wrote a two-part story. I recently received six more samples of Susana Balbo 2016, 2017 and 2018 vintages. Needless to say, I was ecstatic with the prospect of tasting these wines. Before I get into the nitty-gritty of Susana’s wines, I think it is worth the re-read from my last story that covered the history of this iconic woman! Susana Balbo is the founder and owner of Susana Balbo Wines in Argentina. Susana is not only the most well known Argentinian female winemaker globally, but she is also the first female enologist in Argentina! With over thirty years experience in the wine industry, Susana has built an impressive career and produces some outstanding wines. From an early age, Susana strayed from wanting a traditional “female” education by electing to study nuclear physics in Bariloche. However, her parents would not let her leave Mendoza to pursue this path. So, Susana made a decision to follow the family’s wine business and in 1981, she graduated from Don Bosco University with a degree in enology, becoming the first female enologist in Argentina and challenging the male-dominated wine industry in Mendoza. Susana’s career began at Michel Torino winery in the Salta province where she made her first wine in 1983. It was the first vintage of Torrontés from Salta. She then continued on to work at many other well-regarded wineries and also worked as a consultant winemaker for national and worldwide wineries before “birthing” Susana Balbo Wines in 1999. Her first vintage was released in 2002. Susana Balbo Wines is located in Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza in western Argentina close to the Andes Mountains. Due to the close proximity of the Andes, the vineyards are subject to a hot, dry climate during the day and cool alpine winds in the evenings, thus allowing the grapes to develop and ripen slowly while reaching full tannic ripeness and maintaining their acidity. In addition to Susana’s two children, José, winemaker and Ana, Marketing Manager who joined the team in 2011 and 2012, esteemed winemaker and viticulturist, Edy Del Pópolo is also on board. Susana is renowned throughout the world for her winemaking talents and single vineyard wines. Susana is also a global ambassador for Argentina. In 2014 she was elected to serve a third term as President of Wines of Argentina. This year, Susana was invited to chair October’s W20 summit, an international gathering of women that is a project of the larger G20 group. They met to discuss promoting gender equality in the world’s 20 leading economies. Susana produces four brands of wine that include CRIOS, Susana Balbo Signature, Nosotros and BenMarco. The Susan Balbo Signature wines are individually fermented varietals that are then carefully blended. These wines are a reflection of Susana’s tastes and preferences by enhancing each grape’s character while expressing the terroir. 2018 Susana Balbo Signature Rosé is a blend of 60% Malbec and 40% Pinot Noir. Grapes were hand-harvested from vineyards in the Uco Valley. The color is salmon with beautiful floral, citrus and red berry aromas. The palate offers a fresh and lively acidity with strawberry, red cherry, minerality and hints of sweet melon on the finish. Drink as an aperitif or with fish, fowl, cheese and sushi. Alcohol: 13% SRP: $20 2017 Susana Balbo Signature Brioso White Blend is made with 45% Semillón, 30% Torrontés and 25% Sauvignon Blanc. Needless to say, this is a very seductive and aromatic wine. The grapes were hand-harvested from the high altitude vineyards of Altamira in the Uco Valley. The wine is aged four months in 60% first use French oak and 40% second use. The color is pale lemon with intense aromas of white lilies, citrus, pear and vanilla that segue onto the palate with hints of minerality on the finish. I could drink this wine all year long! Drink as an aperitif or with spicy food, cheese, fish and fowl. Alcohol: 13% SRP: $24 2016 Susana Balbo Signature Brioso is a beautiful blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Cabernet Franc, 16% Malbec and 7% Petit Verdot. The grapes were hand-harvested from Agrelo in Luján de Cuyo at elevations of over 3,300 feet. The wine was aged for 15 months in 100% new French oak. The color is deep red bordering on purple with intense aromas of black fruit and sweet spice. The palate offers a smooth blend of blackberry, dark plum, spice, pepper, dark cocoa and hints of cedar and floral. This is a luxurious and complex wine that is sure to age well. Pair with hearty meals and aged cheese. On the back label of the Brioso wine, Susana says, “Brioso means “a spirited love of challenge” and expresses my passionate drive to create a wine that reaches the pinnacle of quality.” Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $45 Edy Del Pópolo is a viticulturist and winemaker for BenMarco Wines. “BenMarco wines allow us to go higher in elevation and work in extreme sites never explored before”. The characteristics of the best soils and grapes of Mendoza are expressed in these wines. Vines are planted in complex alluvial soils and Edy brings the “purest interpretation of the soils to the wine by allowing the vines to speak without any winemaking influence.” The BenMarco wines are unfined and unfiltered. 2016 BenMarco Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes are hand-harvested from the alluvial soils of Los Árboles vineyards in the Uco Valley. The wine is aged for 11 months in 100% French oak. The color is dark ruby with floral, dark berries and plum aromas. The palate offers black cherry, dark plum, sour cherry, blackberry fennel and pepper. This is a perfect balance of juicy acidity and grippy tannins. Pair with stews, grilled meat, hearty pasta and aged cheese. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $20 2016 BenMarco Malbec is 100% Malbec. The grapes are hand-harvested from the Los Chacayes region of the Uco Valley. The wine is aged for 11 months in 100% French oak. The color is deep ruby with aromas of floral, jammy fruit and spice. The palate offers succulent black fruit, dark plum, spice, pepper and hints of vanilla and oak on a long finish. This is a rich and expressive wine with just the right amount of acidity and tannins. Alcohol: 13% SRP: $20 2016 BenMarco Expresivo is 75% Malbec and 25% Cabernet Franc. The grapes are hand-harvested from the Gualtallary region of Uco Valley. The wine is aged for 14 months in 100% new French oak. The color is dark ruby with lush aromas of blackberry, black cherry, floral and hints of minerality. The palate is layered with spicy dark berries, dark plum, cranberry, earth, chalk, pepper and hints of vanilla and clove on a long finish. This wine has elegance and is beautifully balanced. It will be interesting to taste this again in a few years. Pair with grilled meats, fowl, spicy stews and hearty pasta. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $35 With state of the art technology and a nonstop commitment to seeking innovative ways to enhance her winemaking, Susana Balbo continues to produce elegant wines that are expressive of the terroir. I will end this story with one last quote. “The creation of my wines at Susana Balbo Wines is to me the maximum achievement as a winemaker, product of all my efforts and many years of hard work. I could say that the winery is like my third child, a dream come true.” Susana. Until next time…
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com It was a perfect summer evening. And it seemed like a good time to open a bottle of Domaine Bousquet Rosé to usher in the weekend. Domaine Bousquet is located high up in the Gualtallary Valley of Tupungato, Argentina. The wines are quite noteworthy, incorporating French and Argentine techniques in the wine production. I have written several stories about Domaine Bousquet. If you have the time, click on the links below to read more about the history of the estate, climate, terroir and the dynamic Anne Bousquet and her husband Labid al Ameri. Day 622 Bonjour Argentina! - The WineKnitter http://thewineknitter.com/1/post/2018/01/day-622-bonjour-argentina.html Day 626 Bonjour Argentina! Part Two - The WineKnitter http://thewineknitter.com/1/post/2018/02/day-626-bonjour-argentina-part-two.html Domaine Bousquet Rosé 2018 is a blend of 45% Malbec, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Pinot Gris organic grapes. The color is pink salmon with subtle aromas of strawberry, raspberry and a hint of citrus. The palate offers red berries, Bing cherries and a trace of lemon. This is a dry, crisp wine with medium acidity that is fresh and light. Alcohol: 13% SRP: $13 This is an easy wine to drink with salads, pasta dishes, fish and cheese. It paired beautifully with the pungent flavor of the Manchego cheese. I think this going to be a white and Rosé wine kind of weekend!
Stay tuned for my next story on my travels to Veneto! Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com Around this time last year, I reviewed two 2016 vintage wines from South America. Remembering how impressed I was with the price to value ratio of these wines, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to taste the 2017 vintages. Reserva Casillero del Diablo Rosé 2017 is produced by winemaker Marcelo Papa. The grapes come from Chile’s Central Valley and are grown in riverbench and benchland associated soils. The wine is a blend of 60% Syrah, 30% Cinsault and 10% Carmenere. The color of the wine is light pink-salmon with aromas of juicy berries, citrus, floral and spice. The palate is layered with red berries and a touch of spice that lingers on the finish. This is a crisp rosé with just the right balance of dryness. I love the design of the bottle as well as the wine inside it! Alcohol: 13% SRP: $12 Trivento White Orchid Reserve 2017 is produced by winemaker Maximiliano Ortíz The grapes are harvested from the Uco Valley, Mendoza where the vines grow in alluvial soil. The wine is a blend of 85% Torrontés and 15% Pinot Gris. The color is pale yellow with intoxicating floral aromas mingled with tropical fruit, pineapple and honeysuckle. A burst of floral floods the palate followed by tropical fruit, apricots, honeydew and hints of citrus. Refreshing acidity and lingering notes of floral and citrus on the finish add to the perfect balance of this delicious wine. Alcohol: 12% SRP: $11 Both of these wines can be enjoyed with a wide range of summer fare or as an aperitif. To read more in-depth stories about Chile, Argentina, Concha y Toro, Casillero del Diablo and Trivento, please visit the menu on the right and click on the categories you’d like to learn about.
Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com My last post took us to Valdobbiadene, a town in the province of Treviso, in northeast Italy, which is the heart of the “world of Prosecco”. Before we leave this beautiful and historic region, I ‘d like to talk about a noteworthy wine producer. A few months ago I was introduced to David Noto, the owner and importer of Altaneve. One of David’s first questions to me was “do you like Prosecco?” “Indeed”, I answered. “Well then, you must try my wines”. And, after an animated exchange and swapping of business cards, David sent me a few bottles of his sparkling wine. David comes from an Italian winemaking family that stretches over 10 generations. Breaking with tradition, his grandfather moved the family from Calabria to Genoa in the early 1900s so that David’s father could live a more metropolitan lifestyle and receive a broader education. His father graduated college with an engineering degree, moved to NY and became well known for building skyscrapers. David, who was born in NYC, followed in his father’s footsteps, earning a mechanical engineering degree. In addition to his European community and NY projects, David has an impressive resume that includes an MBA from Columbia Business School. Although David and his father diverged from the family roots of winemaking, David became an expert on Prosecco. When he returned to New York in 1999, David soon discovered that he couldn’t find quality Prosecco locally. With winemaking in his DNA and his knowledge of this sparkling wine, it was a natural segue for David to direct his time and energy towards making a worthy wine to introduce to NY and beyond. So, David returned to Italy in pursuit of land and vines to make Prosecco. He went straight to Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G. region, specifically Valdobbiadene where grapes for winemaking have grown for over 2000 years. The name Altaneve literally means “high snow” in Italian. With a backdrop of the snow-capped peaks of the Dolomite Mountains and temperate microclimate, Glera grapes grow here on steep vineyards in soils of clay, limestone, marl and marine sandstone. Above photos courtesy of Altaneve Altaneve was launched in May, 2013. Altaneve is a reflection of David’s desire to produce high-quality sparkling wines. He works with a top team of winemakers and agronomists to produce these elegant and delicate wines. And although David lives in New York, he travels several times a year to visit his land in Valdobbiadene. Altaneve Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G is 100% Glera grapes that are handpicked and hand selected from Valdobbiadene. The color is pale straw with a beautiful floral bouquet, pear and hints of stone fruit. Fine perlage, creamy texture and subtle layers of white flowers, pear and honeydew melon delight the palate. Crisp and balanced with a hint of lemon zest on the finish. Serve as an aperitif or with light food. Alcohol: 11.5% SRP: $30 Altaneve Rosé is 70% Pinot Nero and 30% Glera The Glera grapes are grown in Valdobbiadene and the Pinot Nero grapes are grown in Oltrepò Pavese in the Lombardy region. The color is soft salmon with delicate aromas of red berries and floral. The palate offers a fine perlage and soft foam with strawberry, floral and a touch of zest on the finish. Beautifully balanced, crisp and elegant. This wine will pair well with almost any style of food. Alcohol: 11.5% SRP: $33 The wines of Altaneve are a treat and I look forward to tasting more of these sparkling wines. If you’ve never been “moved” by Prosecco, I urge you to try Altaneve. The wines will seduce your palate and give new meaning to the word “Prosecco”. Bravo, David!
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com A few years ago I wrote a story about Loire Valley. After attending “Spring to Loire Valley 2018” wine tasting this past week, I thought it would be worthwhile to revisit these noteworthy wines with you. So before I get into the specifics of some of the wines I tasted, let’s review the Loire Valley region. Loire Valley spans 170 miles and is located in the middle stretch of the Loire River, (France’s longest river) in central France. Loire Valley is also called the “Garden of France” noted for its vineyards, floral gardens, castles and historic towns. The Loire Valley wine region is France’s third largest winemaking region and ranks second in production of rosés. The vineyards, situated along the river, stretches from the Atlantic coast to north-central France. The diversity in soil composition and climate along this stretch plays a key role in the production and characteristics of the wine. Pays Nantais region is closest to the Atlantic Ocean and produces Muscadet, made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape. An interesting note, more Muscadet is produced than any other Loire wine. Muscadet tends to be light-bodied and dry. The high acidity and soft citrus notes make for easy food pairing. The Anjou region is best known for its fruity rosés and red wines. Many of Loire Valley’s sweet wines are produced here. Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc are the most prominent grapes used. Saumur is considered a premier sparkling wine region in France and is also noted for its red wines made with Cabernet Franc. The main variety of grape for white wines is Chenin Blanc. Due to the chalky soil, the sparkling wines tend to drink like champagne. The red wines lean towards fruity and light-bodied. Touraine has many famous appellations that include Vouvray, made from Chenin Blanc grapes and Chinon and St. Nicolas de Bourgueil, both made from Cabernet Franc. The red wines from this region are made mostly from Cabernet Franc, Gamay and Malbec and tend to be rich in tannins. Most of the white wines are made with Sauvignon Blanc and tend to be dry and refreshing with an edge of fruit and tart. Centre-Loire region is at the center of France. “It is the original home of Sauvignon Blanc and of Sancerre, the world’s most prestigious Sauvignon Blanc wine that sets international standards for the grape”, as cited from Loire Valley Wines. The majority of the wines that come from the Loire Valley are pressed from a single varietal as opposed to most classic French wines that are blended. It is easier to discern the terroir of the single varietal grapes through aroma and taste. There are 24 grape varieties in the Loire Valley. The leading white varietals are Melon De Bourgogne, Chenin and Sauvignon. The leading red varietals are Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Gamay. With 28 wine importers showcasing wines from all four regions, I had the opportunity to taste a wide range of whites, reds, rosés and sparkling wines. Below is a slide show of just a few of the wines I tasted along with a brief summary of wines that caught the attention of my palate. Domaine de Cézin, 2016 Chenin Blanc is from the Jasnières appellation. It is 100% Chenin Blanc grown in limestone and clay soil. Layers of light fruit, honey, floral and minerality on the palate show off the aromatic and off-dry characteristics of this wine. SRP: $24
Domaine des Varinelles 2015 Cabernet Franc is from Saumur-Champigny. It is 100% Cabernet Franc and packs a punch with berries, spice, pepper and cherry. Medium tannins and easy to drink. SRP: $20 Domaine Pascal Jolivet 2016 Sauvignon Blanc is from Sancerre. This is a dry and lively wine with fresh citrus, melon, pear, minerality and a snappy lemon curd finish. SRP: $38 Maurice Bonnamy Cabernet Franc Rosé Sparkling NV Crémant-de-Loire appellation. Fine and foamy bubbles lead to fresh citrus, red fruit and spice with a chalky lemon finish. Nice! SRP: $16.99 Domaine Champeau 2016 Chasselas is from Pouilly-sur-Loire appellation. Chasselas grapes originated in Switzerland and are grown in several countries. Although it is usually blended with Sauvignon Blanc, this particular wine is 100% Chasselas. The wine is mild with citrus and floral overtones, lots of salinity and a sour edge to it. Food pairing can be a challenge, but mushrooms, quiche, cheese and fruit work. SRP: $14.99 Domaine Valery Renaudat, 2016 Pinot Gris Rosé is from the Reuilly appellation. This 100% Pinot Gris has layers of citrus, floral, peach and strawberry. Lively acidity with a hint of a bitter finish. SRP: $17.99 Jean Michel Gautier/Domaine de la Racauderie Grolleau Rosé Sparkling NV This 100% Grolleau comes from Touraine appellation. Persistent fine bubbles with soft sweetness, red fruit and lively acidity. Fresh and dry. SRP: $22.99 Domaine du Colombier-Mouzillon-Tillières 2012 Melon de Bourgogne This 100% Melon de Bourgogne is from Muscadet-sèvre-et-Maine appellation. More than two-thirds of total Muscadet production comes from this appellation. The wine is tangy with flinty notes, salinity and hints of apple and mild fruit. SRP: $19.99 Domaine de la Colline 2016 Cabernet Franc is from Chinon appellation. This 100% Cabernet Franc is medium-bodied and earthy with notes of dark fruit and plum. Hints of floral and soft fruit remain on the palate. SRP: $14.99 The wines of the Loire Valley range in style and complexity. So, no matter what you like to drink, whether it’s white, red, rosé or sparkling, crisp, dry, sweet, fruity, racy, edgy, earthy or robust, Loire Valley has a wine that is sure to please your palate. Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com |
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