It is December and the holidays are here. We’ve stocked up on a few new French wines to match those upcoming special dinners.
2018 Château de la Crée Les Tourelles Montagny 1er $28
100% Chardonnay
Primer Cru Burgundy at a great price. This single vineyard wine has aromas are acacia, mayflower, honeysuckle, bramble flowers with notes of hazelnut, white peach and ripe pear. In the mouth, the wine is fresh, young at heart, frisky, alluring, and rich. Refinement and delicacy are harmoniously matched to a durably well-built structure.
2019 Alain Gautheron Chablis $29
100% Chardonnay
The Domaine Gautheron hews mostly to the style of classic Chablis. When they use barrels for elevage, they do so with a light touch. The result is wines that show clean, pure, Chardonnay fruit mixed with a stony minerality.
2018 Domaine Jean Royer Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc $35
50% Grenache Blanc, 30% Bourboulenc, 20% Clairette
Lovely aromatics of nectarine, tangerine, white flowers, and orange pith. On the pallet, it’s fresh and lively, with good body. The stone fruit and orange citrus flavors pick up a touch of fennel frond as they coat your mouth and a refreshing burst of orange and lime pith and chalky minerality makes your mouth water and gets you ready for the next sip.
2020 Cattin Orange Pinot Gris $22
Alsace
This Pinot Gris Orange gets a bright orange color due to the long peel + pit contact. In the nose you indeed smell lemon and orange peels and thick spices. In the mouth you taste the full complexity of the same tones but then candy confit, melon, mango and pepper.
2019 Domaine Vincent Paris Granit 30 Cornas $45
Syrah
The Granit 30 designation refers to the soil, the approximate age of the vines, and the slope on which they are planted. Aromas are a cloud of camphor, black pepper, lillies, gravel, roasted plums, smoked meat. It leads with pure dark fruit with a smoky mid-palate, and a savory, mineral finish. The tannins have a gentle grip. Prime Northern Rhône Syrah with just enough force to reel you in. Organic, Biodynamic.
2010 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Saint Joseph Domaine de la Croix des Vignes $55
Syrah
This 100% Syrah has a nose of crushed blackcurrant, raspberry and blackberry. On the palate the wine is full bodied with clear, brilliant fruit flavors, mineral, spice and earth. Aged and ready.