France; Great Every Day Wines
February 27, 2010Saturday 4:00pm until 7:00pm (or until it's gone)
$5 per person
2007 Domaine des Cadastres Picpoul Pinet Blanc $9.95
France, Coteaux du LanguedocVarietal: Picpoul Blanc
Country: France
Region: Languedoc Roussillon
Sub-Region: Languedoc
Appellation: Coteaux du Languedoc Picpoul-de-Pinet
Type: White
A delicious, springy wine from the South France, Picpoul de Pinet means "lip stinger" because the grape variety's crisp, fresh acidity. Floral, unripe pineapple, apricot and white grapes on both the nose and palate; medium body, balanced acidity, some white pepper on a mouthwatering finish. Perfect for summertime luncheons, seafood, and salads.
2007 Jean Dumont Vouvray $14.95
France, LoireGrape Variety: 100% Chenin Blanc (locally known as "Pineau de la Loire")
Vinification Process: Completed at low temperature in stainless steel tanks.
Description: Very rich wine with subtle almond, acacia and quince aromas. Good length accompanied by honey aromas and a hint of mineral.
Food Pairing: Belgian endive au gratin, Dover sole Meunier, Chicken tarragon, Chocolate crepes.
2008 Domaine du Pere Caboche $12.95
France, RhoneGrape: Grenache
A light-to-medium bodied wine with a nose of cranberries, rose petals and vanilla. Flavors of blackcurrant and pepper lead to a long, cranberry and tobacco-filled finish. Made from 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah, this wine should be decanted at least 30 minutes before serving.
2008 Jean Marc Burgaud Morgon Cote du Py $19.95
France, BurgundyThe Beaujolais region covers a 45-mile long stretch of up to 3,000-foot high hills south of Macon in southern Burgundy. Somewhere high on the granite spurs and knolls of the Beaujolais Mountains, the line blurs between seriousness (Pinot Noir based Burgundy) and insouciance (the Gamay –based wines of Beaujolais). Along this gradient, French wine law accords 10 villages – the Grand Crus (Great Growths) of Beaujolais – the right to retain their village name. The wines retain a beguiling blend of both ends of this spectrum. Morgon lays claim to this privileged tradition and Jean-Marc Burgaud does it proud. A young winemaker on the rise, M. Burgaud culled this classic from his best vineyard in Morgon, Py. The highly distinctive aromas and flavors of this wine: cherry, apricot and a touch of plum fruit, along with its trademark minerality derive from the classic Morgon soil of schist and degraded rock, laden with iron oxide and manganese, as well as from old (50+ yrs.) vines (Vieilles Vignes) and partial barrel-ageing. Endued with an absolutely enticing aroma, bestowed by gorgeous fruit flavor, and structured with firmness and depth, this estate-bottled, single-vineyard, old-vine Grand Cru Beaujolais, gambols, foot poised in midair, ready to step over that invisible line into the rarified territory of Burgundian Pinot Noir.
2006 Chateau Fage Graves Rouge de Vayres $12.95
France, BordeauxA steal from the cellars of Mitchell Son. Graves de Vayres is a small region on the slopes on the Entre-Deux-Mers, not to be confused with the better-known Graves south of the city of Bordeaux. This is a captivating wine, deliciously light and easy to knock back. Smooth, but with a refreshing light acidity, this will make perfect drinking this summer. On its own, with pork or ham and other charcuterie.
2005 Chateau Puy Laborde Bordeaux Superior $12.95
France, BordeauxYet another example of the extraordinary value to be found in Bordeaux's 2005 vintage, Chateau Puy Laborde is packed with succulent fruit and chewy tannins. You could actually cellar this one and expect some improvement in a few years (not something you can say about many $12 wines), but why wait when it'll taste just fine right now with standing rib roast or leg of lamb?
