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It was a beautiful day in NYC yesterday. The temps hovered around 80 degrees and everyone was enjoying a day of summer in the middle of October!  I attended the Saint-Chinian walk-around wine tasting held at the Maison de la Région Occitanie. The event featured The Languedoc: Saint-Chinion wines represented by thirteen wine producers. I tasted some amazing wines which I will elaborate on over the weekend. I will also talk about the appellation, the vines and some of the producers. When I arrived home last evening, I reached for the Château Gassier Ormilles Côtes de Provence Rosé 2015 that was chilling in my refrigerator. With the warm weather and the taste of Saint-Chinian still on my palate, it was a perfect time to pop the cork! Although Provence is several hours away heading east, I was still in France! I reviewed this wine back in June. You can read the review at: http://thewineknitter.com/1/post/2016/07/day-484.html  Have a great Tuesday!
Cheers! Penina
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It is not uncommon for UPS and Fed-Ex to deliver wines to my door from wineries, PR agencies and importers. I love exploring regions, discovering new wines and learning about the winemakers without having to pack a suitcase. Of course, nothing compares to actually walking through a vineyard with glass in hand!  Most recently, I received a box of wines containing samples of Michel Chapoutier’s 2015 Domaine de Bila-Haut “Les Vignes” Rouge and “Les Vignes” Blanc. Domaine Bila-Haut is located in the region of Côtes de Roussillon, Languedoc. It is in Southwest France, and very close to Spain.   Michel Chapoutier Michel Chapoutier is head of Maison M. Chapoutier. He is world-renowned and is one of Rhône’s most famous wine producers of Hermitage, Chateaneuf du Pape and Côte Rôtie to name just a few. He purchased the 190-acre Domaine Bila-Haut in 1999 . It was a neglected property but showed promise with the land being a mix of schist, gneiss and clay. With Chapoutier’s knowledge, expertise and passion along with the climate of the Mediterranean, he turned the land into a perfect growing environment for Syrah, Grenache and Carignan. Bila-Haut wines reflect all of this. Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Rouge is elegant. This is a beautiful blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan. The color is so dark it borders on violet. Intense aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, spice and herbs are present. The palate offers lots of dark fruit, plum and pepper. The “jammy” flavors blend well with the spice. The wine is medium-bodied with soft tannins and an extra treat of pepper and chocolate on a long finish. Alcohol: 14.5%  Les Vignes de Bila-Haut is a lovely blend of 50% Grenache Blanc, 20% Marsanne, 20% Macabeo and 10% Vermentino. It is interesting to note that only 4% of the grapes in this region are allocated to white wine. And, Michel Chapoutier has done a stunning job of capturing the essence of these varietals. Soft yellow in color, this crisp wine is very aromatic with citrus, vanilla, floral, lemon and hints of stone fruit that segue onto the palate. It has a creamy mouth-feel with a lingering bit of zest and the sea on the long finish. Alcohol: 13.5%  The wines are available nationally and on select wines lists as well. They retail for about $15.
Both wines will pair well with a variety of foods. With the holidays approaching, these are wonderful wines to serve with appetizers, entrees and even dessert! They are a great value for the price and easy wines to drink! Enjoy! Cheers! Penina 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  It was a great weekend, even though it was incredibly hot outside. We cooled off in the nearest body of water as often as possible and stayed hydrated with water during the day. However, we treated ourselves to aperitifs and wine with dinner at night. By the way, the strawberry was scrumptiously infused with the Lillet and heavenly to eat! I reviewed this wine a few days ago. http://thewineknitter.com/1/post/2016/07/day-489.html  The other evening I opened a bottle of 2011 D'Isanto & D'Isanto I Balzini Black Label Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT. I have written about this wine on more than one occasion on my blog. My last review of it was this past November. “Made with a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this bold wine was the color of deep purple. Aromas of dark berries, spice and cocoa were present. A quick sip and swirl upon opening, told me this was going to be a treat. The wine had a rich mouthfeel with concentrated berries, dark cherry, plum, licorice and dark chocolate on the palate. As the wine opened over the course of the evening the flavors became more intense. The tannins were soft and the finish was long with cherry and pepper lingering.” This vintage is very consistent, having had a few bottles of the 2011 over the course of 2 years. You can read more about their White and Red Label on previous posts: Day 347 9/22/15 and Day 230 3/19/15. http://www.ibalzini.it  It’s time to head outdoors and enjoy a swim!
Enjoy your Sunday! Cheers! Penina  Back in the day, I used to order Lillet when “barhopping” with friends. Having just turned twenty-one, I thought the drink sounded exotic. As my friends ordered classic drinks such as screwdrivers, rum & coke, or a glass of house wine, I would be perched on the bar stool feeling “oh so” sophisticated with my “French” aperitif. I first tasted Lillet Blanc at Yellow Fingers in NYC. The bartender, realizing that I had no idea what to order, took it upon himself to pour me a Lillet over ice. I’m not sure whether it was the wink he gave me combined with his good looks or the delicious taste of the Lillet, but it became my “go to” drink for a while. Lillet is considered an aromatized wine and is produced in Podensac, a small village south of Bordeaux. It is a blend of 85% Bordeaux region wines and 15% macerated citrus liqueurs. It is available in Rouge and Blanc. The company was founded in 1872 by brothers Paul and Raymond Lillet. In 1887, Kina Lillet was created, making it Bordeaux’s first and only aperitif. At the time, all other aperitifs were red. In 1962, Pierre Lillet, grandson of Raymond, created Lillet Rouge, primarily for the American market.  Lillet Blanc has been likened to vermouth, however Lillet has distinct flavors of citrus, honey and spice. The color is golden with aromas of orange blossom and honey with subtle hints of apricot and peach. These aromas segue onto the palate. A creamy mouth-feel gives way to a very crisp and clean finish. It should be served chilled or over ice, perhaps with an orange or lemon slice. As the label states, “it is best presented in a traditional Bordeaux wine glass, to enhance its subtle delicate bouquet”. There are many Lillet cocktails to be found on the Internet. I prefer mine over ice! Alcohol: 17% http://www.lillet.com As soon as I reacquaint myself with Lillet Rouge, I’ll share my thoughts with you.
Happy Tuesday! Cheers! Penina  It is the start of July 4th weekend. Wasn’t I just recently talking about Memorial Day? The summer is going by so quickly. Except for some big thunderstorms today, the rest of the weekend looks pretty good. So chill the wine, pack a picnic and find some awesome fireworks to watch.  A lovely Rosé to pack in your picnic cooler is Château Gassier Ormilles Côtes de Provence Rosé 2015. I had it the other evening as an aperitif. Made with Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah, this dry rosé is refreshing as an aperitif or with light fare. The color was between salmon and peach with aromas of strawberry, peach and a hint of citrus. The palate offered a creamy texture of strawberry, light berries and a hint of vanilla. A touch of lemon zest lingered on a medium-finish. Alcohol 13% My post is short and sweet today. I have much to do to get ready for this weekend.
Happy Friday! Cheers! Penina  At the beginning of the week I had a belated birthday celebration with a fellow wine enthusiast. My gift was dinner and a shared bottle of a very special wine. Having had the opportunity to drink a 59’, 69’ and 94’ vintage, I was very excited to try the 1981 Château Haut-Brion, Premier Cru Classé (First Growth) that my friend brought. The cork was removed intact and the wine was decanted. The color was more russet than red. We patiently waited for the wine to open, but had to take just a little sip first. As to be expected, it was heavy with must and earth, but we could detect the fruit that was buried beneath it. We waited. As the wine opened, gentle flavors of non-descript fruit emerged mingled with hints of tobacco. It was soft and quite pleasant. Although its plateau of maturity has long faded, the wine was enjoyable to the very last drop. http://www.haut-brion.com  I wrote an article on the history of Château Haut-Brion along with a review of the 1994 vintage in Sept. 2015. So rather than repeat myself, please click on this link to read about it. http://thewineknitter.com/1/post/2015/10/day-369.html
I have a 1961 and 1969 Château Haut-Brion still waiting to be opened! Happy Thursday! Cheers! Penina It was a lovely weekend of celebrating birthdays and friendship. In between feasting on food and drinking an assortment of wine, we managed to sneak in a day to visit the Degas exhibit and Impressionist collection at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC. These are two of my favorite paintings by Degas and Picasso.  One of the many wines that were opened this past weekend was a lovely 2015 Domaine du Pere Caboche – Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Rosé. It is a blend of 30% Carignan and 70% Grenache, typical Côtes du Rhône varietals. It had a soft pink color with delicate aromas of raspberry, strawberry and a hint of melon. It had lots of ripe fruit on the palate with a subtle layer of spice. This medium-bodied wine was very refreshing, medium-dry, and had a silky finish. It was a perfect start to kick off the evening and paired well with the shrimp and mozzarella platters. http://www.jpboisson.com More reviews tomorrow.
Happy Tuesday! Cheers! Penina  Memorial Day weekend is here and friends have headed to the beach or hightailed it up to their country cabins and lakes. For those of us that have chosen to stay home, we’ve been swimming, grilling and hanging out! While grilling Vidalia onions and mushrooms last evening, I took stock of my herb and vegetable garden. I was very pleased to see that my strawberry plant is producing such large fruit. And, the strawberries are very sweet! I’m thinking that strawberries pureed with vodka and crushed ice would make a fun summer drink!   I’ve been looking forward to opening Soulmates Wines 2008 Zinfandel and I was hoping to try it last night. But with temperatures hovering close to 90 degrees, we needed to drink something a touch lighter and a bit cooler! However, it will be the first red wine that I open when the temperatures drop a bit. We ended up opening a 2015 Jean-Picard Sancerre Le Chemin de Marloup Sauvignon Blanc that was chilled to perfection. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc was pale lemon with soft aromas of citrus, peach, strawberry, floral notes and a hint of vanilla. On the palate this full-bodied wine was understated and refreshing. The texture was creamy with mingled flavors of pear, nectarine, & a hint of herbs. The Picard family has been producing wine in Sancerre since 1750. The vineyard is located next to the Loire on the Bue’ slopes which are reputed to be one of the finest for quality. I look forward to trying their Sancerre Rose’ and Sancerre Red soon. http://www.sancerre-picard.com/en/  Happy Sunday…and enjoy the rest of the holiday weekend!
Cheers! Penina The weekend flew by with fun dinners, watching a little hockey, basketball and some much needed down time. I also enjoyed a beautiful Mother’s Day filled with sweet acknowledgements of a job well done! And now it’s Monday. Time to fire up the computer and get to work.  The other evening while at a dinner party I tasted a lovely 2009 Château Durfort-Vivens Margaux, Bordeaux, France. This red blend is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc and is a second growth Deuxième Cru of the 1855 Classification. This medium-full bodied wine was ruby red with succulent aromas of berries, spices, tobacco and cocoa. The palate was layered with cherry, purple plum, blackberry and spice. Hints of cocoa were present on a long and silky finish. It was a treat to drink it! The wine was aged in 40% new French oak barrels for an average of 18 months. http://www.durfort-vivens.fr The week is jam packed with lots to do, but I plan to take advantage of the warm weather and blue skies to get in as much power walking as possible.
Happy Monday! Cheers! Penina |
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