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Although I love to sip rosé throughout the year, mild spring weather and flowers blooming makes it all the more enticing!  Photo courtesy of Maison M. Chapoutier. The Chapoutier family is no stranger to producing rosés and many other wine styles. This iconic winery is located in the picturesque Rhône wine region in southeastern France. Michel Chapoutier is a seventh-generation oenologist and head of Maison M. Chapoutier, founded in 1808. Michel is one of Rhône’s most famous wine producers and is known worldwide for such wines as Hermitage, Chateauneuf du Pape, and Côte Rôtie.  Michel Chapoutier Photo courtesy of Maison M. Chapoutier. Michel's daughter, Mathilde, is also making a name for herself as an eighth-generation oenologist in the company.  Mathilde Chapoutier Photo courtesy of Maison M. Chapoutier. I recently had the pleasure of sampling their newly released 2023 rosés from Côtes du Rhône and Provence.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss M. Chapoutier Belleruche Rosé Côtes du Rhône AOP 2023 Belleruche means “beautiful beehive” in French and is named for the bees and hives that are part of the sustainable vineyards. Grapes for this blend are Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault. The wine is aged in stainless steel vats for three to six months.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Nose: Floral, strawberry, white peach, and flinty minerality. Palate: Aromas flow onto the palate with apricot, melon, and zingy acidity. Perfection! Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $18 Pairing suggestions: Enjoy as an aperitif or serve with fish, shellfish, summer salads, crab quiche, or grilled white meat. Mathilde Chapoutier Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire AURISSO AOP 2023 The symbol on Mathilde’s labels is a beautiful compass rose, symbolizing the various wine regions she explored worldwide and her quest beyond the Rhóne Valley region. This wine is a blend of Grenache Noir, Syrah, Cinsault, and Rolle. Grapes are harvested from vineyards located east of Aix-en-Provence, at the foot of the Sainte-Victoire and Aurélien mountains in the commune of Pourcieux. The wine is aged for five months in stainless steel vats before bottling.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Nose: Floral notes, red berries, and a touch of cherry. Palate: Fresh and crisp, with juicy red berries and a hint of strawberry and minerality lingering on the finish. Alcohol: 12.5% SRP: $20 Pairing suggestions: Great as an aperitif or with any fish or shellfish, grilled scallops, vegetable risotto, or light cheese board. Mathilde Chapoutier Côtes de Provence ORSURO AOP 2023 This wine is an interesting blend of mostly Grenache Noir, with Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Clairette, and Rolle. The vineyards are located east of Aix-eProvence, at the foot of the Sainte-Victoire and Aurélien mountains. Aging takes place in stainless steel vats for five months.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Nose: Light floral, citrus, and red berries. Palate: Strawberry, juicy peach, pink grapefruit, and subtle herbal notes. This is a lively and refreshing wine. Alcohol: 13% SRP: $28 Pairing suggestions: Enjoy on its own or with pasta salad, fish, shellfish, grilled white meat, or sushi. It is interesting to note that M Chapoutier’s wine labels are printed in Braille. It is Michel’s way of paying homage to Maurice de la Sizeranne (1857-1924), who lost his sight at age nine. Maurice was one of France’s most noted philanthropists who founded the Revue du Braille, perfecting the system of abbreviated Braille. Maurice and his family owned a small plot of land in the famous Hermitage appellation, where Chapoutier bought some prime Hermitage vineyards. He sources the grapes from here for one of his most renowned wines, Monier de la Sizeranne. The wine honors the de la Sizeranne family with a special nod to Maurice. M Chapoutier has been practicing biodynamic viticulture since 1990. All herbicides and chemical pesticides are prohibited, and the vineyards are sustained using only organic matter. Michel believes only healthy vines growing within a balanced ecosystem can make great wine.  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 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.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss 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  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Enjoy “the longest day” and have a great weekend!  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 Winter is just around the corner and we’ve already had a taste of snow, about eight inches worth! During this unexpected snowfall, I took inventory of the many samples that I’ve received of late and decided this would be a great time to open a few bottles from the Rhône Valley.  The Rhône Valley is a grape-growing region located in Southern France.  The Northern Rhône has seven major appellations consisting mostly of steep hillsides and stone filled soils including limestone, minerals, clay and gravel. The climate is continental and is influenced by the mistral wind with the winters tending to be tough and the summer months warm. The signature grape is Syrah and it is the only red grape permitted here. Viognier, Marsanne and Roussane make up the white varieties. The Southern Rhône produces about 95% of all wine in the Rhône Valley. It has six major appellations that are situated on flatter terrain consisting of stony soil including limestone, clay and sand. The climate is Mediterranean with mild winters and warm, dry summers. Thirteen grape varieties are allowed, both red and white with Grenache as the signature grape here.  More than two-thirds of Rhône Valley wines are bottled as Côtes-du-Rhône, with the appellation covering Northern and Southern Rhône. So, with these tidbits of information in mind, let’s talk about Ferraton Père & Fils. If you’ve been following my stories, you probably recognize this name. I’ve written about their wines on several occasions and at the risk of repeating myself, here is a condensed version of a previous story. Ferraton Père & Fils estate is located in Tain l’Hermitage 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 2000, all of the vineyards were converted to biodynamic farming and are now certified organic. Twenty percent of Ferraton production is estate wines with grapes coming from the domaine’s 37 acres in the Northern Rhône’s Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage and St. Joseph appellations. The rest is sourced from sustainably farmed fruit in both Northern and Southern Rhône appellations. 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. Today, oenologist Damien Brisset heads Ferraton and is supported by a young, dynamic team with an average age in the mid-thirties. Côtes-du-Rhône Samorëns Blanc 2017 is a blend of 60% White Grenache and 40% Clairette. The color is lemon with aromas of blossom, pear, melon and citrus. The palate offers honeysuckle, pear, lemon, apple and hints of fennel. This is a refreshing wine with great balance and crispness. Drink as an aperitif or with light cuisine such as seafood, cheese and salads. Alcohol: 14% SRP: $16  Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Plan de Dieu 2017 Plan de Dieu means “God’s Plan” in French and is a Côtes-du-Rhône village that has had its AOC status for red wines since 2005. Vineyards here date back to at least 1362. This wine is a beautiful blend of 65% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre. Lush aromas of black fruit, raspberry, cherry and spice segue onto the palate and become more defined. Blackberry, dark plum, black currant, pepper, vanilla and hints of savory linger on a long finish. Ripe tannins and a silky mouth-feel complete this expressive wine. Pair with grilled meats, game, dense fish and stews. Alcohol: 14% SRP: $18  I have always enjoyed the wines from Ferraton Père & Fils. The price to value ratio is impressive and these are great wines to have on hand for the holidays.
Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com Spring is being quite obstinate in making an appearance. And, I am getting quite tired of the chilly temperatures and forecasts of impending snow showers. I’m ready to trade in my winter coat and gloves for a sundress and sandals! So, to liven things up a bit, I brought a bit of spring indoors and to my dining table. I opened a bottle of Rosé that I had just received from the Côtes-du-Rhône and served it with delicious smoked salmon pasta. The wine was Ferraton Père & Fils Samorëns Rosé 2017. I tasted and reviewed the 2016 vintage last year and I was not disappointed with the 2017 vintage!  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 estate is located in Tain l’Hermitage 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 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. Today, Ferraton is headed by oenologist Damien Brisset, who is supported by a young, dynamic team with an average age in the mid-thirties.  The Samorëns Rosé 2017 is a blend of 75% Grenache with Syrah and Cinsault. The color is rich coral with delicate aromas of fresh berries, soft floral, hints of citrus and melon. The palate offers red berries, peach, floral and a touch of vanilla on the finish. This is a dry, medium-bodied wine with good acidity and minerality. It’s perfect to serve as an aperitif or with light pasta dishes, seafood and even dessert! Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $15  The pasta dish is made with smoked salmon, roasted squash, peas, shallots, herbs and Parmesan cheese. I served it warm, but it is delicious as a cold entrée to present throughout the summer as well. And of course, the rosé was an ideal accompaniment to the meal.   I’m counting the days until I can finally sit outside, enjoy the sunset, grill food and sip some wine! I have lots of bubbly to share with you in the coming weeks. Until then…
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com  The summer solstice is upon us. And what better way to welcome the longest day of the year than with some wine from the Côtes-du-Rhône. 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.   Ferraton Père & Fils estate is located in Tain l’Hermitage 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 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.  The Samorëns Blanc 2016 is a beautiful blend of 35% Roussanne, 30% Viognier, 25% Grenache Blanc, 5% Clairette and 5% Marsanne. The color is pale straw with a floral and stone fruit bouquet. The palate offers citrus, pear and apple. This medium-bodied wine is fresh and nicely balanced with a crisp floral finish. Drink as an aperitif or with light summer fare. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $14  The 2016 Samorëns Rosé is made with 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 20% Cinsault. The color is a festive salmon pink with subtle aromas of flowers, red berries, peach and melon. The palate is soft and subtle as well, offering stone fruit, watermelon and hints of citrus zest and vanilla on the finish. This is a perfect sunset rosé!
Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $14 These are fun wines to drink over the summer…and summer is here!! Happy Wine Wednesday! Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com |
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