This Saturday we’ve collected a group of French wines that put a smile on our face and we think will put a smile on yours. Stop by and try these great wines from Alsace, the Loire, Bordeaux, Languedoc, and Madiran.
It’s a tour in a glass.
2011 Domaine Le Fay d’ Homme Muscadet Sêvre et Maine $12
For five generations the Caillé family has been making Muscadet in Monnières. The wine ages “Sur lie” (on its sediment) for several months which adds body and mouthfeel. The La Fay is a fuller Muscadet, dry and focused with notes of white flowers. It’s the perfect wine for shellfish of all sorts.
Michel Fonné, Cremant d’ Alsace $18
70% Pinot Blanc, 30% Pinot Noir
Michel Fonné studied winemaking in Dijon and Champagne where he learnt about sparkling wines. IN 1089 he returned to Alsace manage the Barthe René estate for his retiring uncle. In 1997 he took over the vineyards of his father, and merged them with those of Barth René for a total of 12 hectares some of which are designated Grand Cru. About 10% of the plantings are dedicated to his Crémant d`Alsace, an above average sparkler with beautiful white peach tones, mineral nuance and hints of citrus skin that resolves into a long, dry finish.
2011 Domaine Galtier, Garrica, IGP Pays d’Hérault Côteaux de Murviel $10
The Domaine Galtier is a typical Languedoc farm (mas) surrounded by garrigue (scrubland) with its square tower and its bread oven built in the middle of the 17th century. The vineyard covers 25 hectares located near the small village of Murviel lès Béziers. The owners, Lise and Jean Carbonne are both from wine-growing families back two generations (her father and his mother). The Garrica is a light and herby Languedoc red — Great with food or just sipping by itself.
2010 Chateau La Haie, Bordeaux $17
80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet
François Decombe’s uncle owned a tiny vineyard and a few cows producing milk. After two years working with his uncle François rented his own vineyard and became a self taught winemaker. The vineyards are Certified Organic and farmed bio-dynamically. François barely touches his wines, he focuses on a hard work in the vineyard and an impeccable hygiene in the cellar, then he only has to listen to them singing and bottle them when he thinks they are ready. François smiles saying that the vines talk to him, thank him and give him beautiful fruit, every year. The wine has very enticing nose intermixing ripe blackcurrant and pleasant smoky mineral undertones.
2010 Domaine Labranche Laffont, Madiran $16
2/3 Tannat, 1/3 Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon
When she took over her family’s vineyards in 1993, Christine Dupuy was the youngest winemaker in Madiran(and a girl to boot). Her Madiran is produced from 10 acres of clay loam soil Gravettes. The wine ages 18 months before being bottled. It has a complex nose of red fruits and spices, fat, round tannins and a full finish.