The different vineyards of France are known for their distinct terroir, the taste of the soil, climate and place. Saturday we’ll be pouring a diverse and tasty selection of wines from the Loire, Languedoc, Gascogne, and the right back of Bordeaux, all uniquely different and distinctively French. It is a kaleidoscope of flavor concentrated into a pleasant little corner of the weekend. Come join us.
2009 Domaine du Margalleau, Vouvray Brut $18
Chenin Blanc
Winemaker Jean-Michel Pieaux reserves the best of his Chenin crop for this bountiful, dazzlingly fresh sparkling wine, performing a single disgorgement following a full year of aging on fine lees. The wine is impressively complex and rich on the tongue, with notes of warm honey, lemon curd and white flowers show on the nose; the mouth delivers flavors of almonds and citrus, with savory hints of graham cracker.
2011 Domaine Sainte Rose, Coquille d’oc blanc $12
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat and Viognier
Domaine Sainte Rose is a family owned and run boutique winery near Servian in the Languedoc. The Coquille D’Oc White is a deliciously drinkable blend, fresh, zingy citrus fruit flavors and wonderfully peachy aromatics combine with a surprisingly rich finish.
2011 Chateau Pellehaut, Harmonie de Gascogne Rosé $10
Tannat, Merlot,
Pellehaut, from the roman pila haut (high point), is owned by the Béraut family. Gaston Béraut oversees the domaine, which also includes cattle, wheat and sunflowers. His Rosé is bled from the Les Marcottes cuvee. It is bright, fruity and clean, dry and light but full of big flavors of cherry and strawberry and pineapple with a subtle hint of spice.
2008 Domaine Sainte Rose, La Garrigue $13
Syrah, Grenache
The garrigue is the landscape of the Languedoc. It is a wild and arid yet fragrant and delicate mix of Mediterranean flora. The flavors and aromas of thewine are reminiscent of the garrigue. It is a wine of enormous character, which has inspired rather a cult following. Scents of the garrigue such as aromatic thyme and sage mingle with jammy, red fruit and spicy, black pepper.
2009 Chateau Mangot Saint Emilion $26
85% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc. 6% Cabernet Sauvignon
This is a new vintage of one of our stalwart favorites. The Mangot estate covers some 37 hectares in a single stretch in Saint Etienne De Lisse. Its hillside terraces face due south and are sustainably farmed. The wine is aged in separate batches for 14 months in French oak, 40% of which is new. The Mangot has full aromas of cedar, minerals, licorice and an earthy note, followed by dry tannins and lots of dark fruit flavors that are concentrated, rounded and full on the palate.
