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Château d’Esclans is an enchanting property situated in the heart of Provence, France, northeast of St. Tropez.  Photo courtesy of Château d'Esclans In 2006, Sacha Lichine purchased the property. Sacha was born in Bordeaux and educated in America. Since age 23, he has worked in every aspect of the wine industry, including production and sales. With the purchase of Château d’Esclans, Sacha’s vision was to create the most outstanding rosés in the world. And with unerring determination, the Château is now home to the iconic rosé brand, Whispering Angel, and in its sixteenth vintage. The WineKnitter is no stranger to the beautiful rosés produced by Sacha Lichine and Château d’Esclans, which I have had the pleasure of reviewing in the past.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Today I’m delighted to give a shout-out to Sacha’s latest creation, “The Pale.” This whimsical bottle is a nod to the roaring twenties and aligns with the mid-20th century cocktail party scenes. And it comes with a very friendly price tag!  Photo credit: Penny Weiss The PALE Rosé by Sacha Lichine 2021 Made with Grenache, Rolle Syrah, and Cinsault, the grapes are sourced from the best terroirs in the Vin de Pays/ IGP Var region. The vineyards are parallel to the Mediterranean coast and influenced by the fresh sea air of the French Riviera. Salty and sun-drenched soils contribute to a dry yet fruity character. Aging is on fine lees for five to eight months in stainless steel tanks contributing to a subtle creamy texture.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Nose: White flowers, red berries, a hint of sweet citrus, and grapefruit. Palate: Fresh, dry, and lively with aromas that segue onto the palate. Notes of minerality and nice acidity mingle with honeydew, berries, and pink grapefruit on the finish. Alcohol: 12.5% SRP: $16.99 Pairing suggestions: Enjoy as an aperitif or serve with salads, appetizers, cheese, light pasta, or pizza. If you want to change up your rosé experience, try a spin on the classic spritz and make a rosé spritz. Or try this Provence Cooler, created by New York bartender Auriela Nossa and first published by Liquor.com.  Photo courtesy of Auriela Nossa and Liquor.com Provence Cooler
Ingredients: 3/4 ounce vodka 1/2 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed 1/2 ounce simple syrup 1 blackberry 2 basil leaves 3 ounces rosé Garnish: basil leaf Garnish: blackberry Steps: 1. Add the vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a shaker. 2. Add the blackberry and muddle. 3. Add the basil leaves and ice and shake vigorously until well-chilled. 4. Add the rosé to the shaker, then strain over fresh ice into a Collins glass. 5. Garnish with a basil leaf and skewered blackberry. Happy sipping! Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com The leaves are beginning to change color and some of them are already sprinkling to the ground.  It is officially autumn, however I’m not quite ready to put away my sandals. And, I’m certainly not inclined to shelve my white and rosé wines. In fact, if you have kept up with my stories, then you know I tend to drink these wines all year round. To welcome the fall season, I decided to open a crisp rosé from Michel Chapoutier’s Domaine de Bila-Haut vineyards located in the region of Côtes de Roussillon, Languedoc.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss To learn more about Michel Chapoutier, please click on the link below or peruse the Categories list to the right of this page. http://thewineknitter.com/the-journal/category/bilahaut Domaine de Bila-Haut “Les Vignes” Pays d’Orc Rosé 2018 is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Cinsault that is fermented and aged in tanks. Up until the 2018 vintage, Michel, ever the artist and experimentalist, also used 5% Syrah in the blend, but he has phased it out completely.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss This coral-colored wine has subtle but inviting aromas of floral, citrus, red fruit and minerality. The palate offers a soft array of berries, rose, herbs, minerality and a hint of watermelon. This is a dry and refreshingly crisp wine with just a trace of citrus on the finish. Drink as an aperitif or serve with light pasta, seafood, sushi and salads. Alcohol: 12.5% SRP: $15 Although I’m taking inventory of my red wines and getting ready for those cold winter days ahead, my refrigerator will always be stocked with white, rosé and sparkling wines!  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Until next time…
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com  On the eve of the summer solstice in June, I wrote about Ferraton Père & Fils flavorful Samorëns Rosé 2016 and Samorëns Blanc 2016. And now that we are just fifteen days away from the winter solstice, I decided it was time to open a few reds from Ferraton Père & Fils.  Ferraton Père & Fils estate is located in Tain l’Hermitage in Southern France and was founded in 1946 by Jean Orëns Ferraton. His son Michel, inheriting the same passion as his father, introduced the first Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage and Saint-Joseph wines to the world. Michel Chapoutier, a highly regarded winemaker and close friend of the Ferratons’ introduced organic viticulture to the vineyards in 1998 and he eventually formed a partnership with the Ferratons. By the year 2000, all of the vineyards were converted to biodynamic farming and are now certified organic. What began in 1946 as a .3 hectare estate (some of these vines still produce fruit), Ferraton now has an annual production of about 350,000 bottles and is headed by oenologist Damien Brisset.   La Matinière Crozes-Hermitage 2015 is 100% Syrah. Crozes-Hermitage is the largest appellation in the Northern Rhône and is known for its exceptional Syrahs. The grapes for the La Matinière are sourced and blended from a mix of estate and neighboring vineyards in the Mercurol and Beaumont-Monteux districts of central and southern Crozes-Hermitage. The wine is the color of dark plum bordering on purple. It is very aromatic, filling the nose with cherry, dark berries, spice and earth. The palate offers a beautiful dance of dark cherry, red berries, pomegranate, pepper and cocoa. Smooth tannins with a long finish of cherry, plum and pepper add a nice kick to the finale. This is a versatile wine when it comes to pairing with food! Alcohol: 13% SRP: $23 Côtes-du-Rhône is in the Southern Rhône. The region enjoys a Mediterranean climate conducive to grape growing which also reflects in the characteristics of the wine.  Samorëns Côtes-du-Rhône Red 2015 is a blend of 85% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 5% Cinsault. The grapes are sourced from estate and smaller growers mostly located in the Northern Rhône. The color of the wine is dark ruby with aromas of lush red fruit, cherry, raspberry, floral and spice. The palate offers tart cherry, raspberry, fennel and pepper. It has a lovely mouthfeel with spice and pepper on a long finish. At $14 a bottle, this is a steal! Will pair well with pasta, meats and hearty fish. I popped a chocolate kiss in my mouth and took a sip of the wine. Wow! Alcohol: 14% SRP: $14 All of these wines, including Samorëns Rosé and Samorëns Blanc, will drink beautifully at any time of the year. Don’t limit your selection of wine based on what season it is. Be adventurous and have some fun with mixing it up a little. I have white and rosé wine chilling in the refrigerator all year long!
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com What does a French winemaker have in common with Havana, Cuba? And how did I end up at a Cuban restaurant tasting some extraordinary wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France.  It seems that Stephane Kandler, owner of Château Tourril has a passion for wine, cigars, the sea and the mystique of Cuba. Having named a few of his wines honoring these passions, Havana Central Times Square Restaurant in NYC. was the perfect choice for Stephane along with Loubaton Imports and Sud de France to host a Havana-themed wine tasting and luncheon.  Stephane Kandler, owner of Château Tourril Château Tourril is located in the commune of Roubia on a 13-hectare family vineyard in the Languedoc-Roussillon region between the famous city of Carcassonne and the Canal du Midi, in the south of France. At the origin of the Château is an ancient gallo-roman signal tower that sits on top of the estate for which the Château is named. “Tower” in French is “tour”. The vineyard is enclosed in a clay-limestone corrie surrounded by garrigue (scrubland) that acts as a barrier, protecting the vines against winds and frost. See slide show below. Château Tourril only produces wine from the AOC Minervois appellation. The grapes are harvested from Syrah, Cinsault, 100-year-old Carignan, Grenache and Roussanne vines. The entire production process takes place at the Château using modern winemaking technology. After the 2016 harvest, they made the move to certified AB organic production. Their first full organic AOC Minervois Harvest was in 2017. This year Château Tourril will be celebrating its 20th anniversary. Stephane Kandler, owner and second generation, took control of the family business three years ago after spending twenty years as a professional sailor competing in the America’s Cup. In Stephane’s words “I was mainly on the sea with salt and water. Three years ago I decided to pack my bags and go back on land. I decided to take over the family business. We started 3 years ago with a goal to become a prominent Languedoc estate, increasing quality of wine and vineyards going organic. Good for nature, the land and soil.” We tasted four Tourril wines at the event; all of them were of good quality and quite expressive.  We started with the AOC Minervois Rosé 2016 Havana. The name “Havana” was given to the Rosé because it makes one think of parties, sun and warm weather. The blend is 70% Cinsault and 30% Grenache. Having reviewed the 2015 Havana Rosé on 8/13/16, I was looking forward to trying the 2016. I was not disappointed! The color is pale strawberry with aromas of fresh fruit and hints of citrus. The palate offers cherry, citrus and lots of freshness, balanced with a smooth and zesty finish. A “playful” rosé for sure! Alcohol: 12.5% SRP: $14  The AOC Minervois White Helios 2016 is 100% Roussanne. The color is pale yellow with wonderful aromas of fresh flowers, pears and herbs. The palate is rich and silky with layers of perfume, fruit, hints of peach and vanilla. Smooth, balanced and dry! Alcohol: 13% SRP: $20  The AOC Minervois Red Philippe 2011 is a lovely blend of 40% Carignan, 30% Grenache Noir and 30% Syrah. The color is royal ruby with heady aromas of dark fruit, cherry and spice. This is a full-bodied wine that layers the palate with blackberries, currants, plums and a hint of pepper. Smooth tannins and long finish give this wine richness. Alcohol: 13% SRP: $18  The AOC Minervois Red Panatella 2011 is a beautiful blend of 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache. And of course, the wine is named after the Cuban cigar! This was definitely one of my favorites. The color is dark purple with luscious aromas of dark berries, spice and herbs. This is a full-bodied wine with so much character! The palate is silky smooth with dark fruit, anise, spice, tobacco and a smokiness that lingers on the finish. Well done! Alcohol: 13.5% SRP $20  In January 2017 Château Tourril launched a program in support of local economy and disadvantaged people. KuB© is an eco-friendly rechargeable wooden box that contains a 3 liter Bag In Box. The wood is obtained from sustainably managed forests and the boxes are manufactured locally by a specialized institution that helps disabled people. The design is clever because the box can also be used as a birdhouse without any modification. Pretty awesome! And what would a Havana themed tasting be without hand rolled cigars!  Château Tourril wines are elegant and versatile for drinking as aperitifs or pairing with foods. Take a look at their website at: http://www.chateautourril.fr
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com It’s hard to believe that we are already into the month of August. Clothing stores are displaying fall fashions and back to school supplies are occupying the shelves.  However, I am not ready to give up summer yet. I plan to swim, continue to grill food and enjoy summer quaffs for as long as I can! And fortunately, my friends are in agreement.  While visiting with a friend the other evening, we took advantage of the nice weather and sat outside and sipped a lovely rosé from Languedoc-Roussillon, France. The 2015 Château Tourril, Havana Minervois AOP rosé was a beautiful blend of 70% Cinsault and 30% Grenache. The color was pale salmon with subtle citrus aromas and fresh fruit. The palate offered strawberry, cherry and mild citrus notes. The finish was long with herbs and a hint of bitterness lingering. A very nice wine, indeed! Alcohol: 12.5% Price: about $13.00 Château Tourril is a family owned vineyard located between the Canal du Midi and the fortified city of Carcassonne. The small 13-hectare estate produces wine from its Syrah, Cinsault and 100 year old Carignan, Grenache and Roussanne vines. The entire production process is conducted at the Château, using sustainable agricultural techniques. http://www.chateautourril.fr Happy Wednesday!
Cheers! Penina |
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