While there are some great white and rosé Côte du Rhône wines on the market, the majority of wines available from this appellation are reds. These reds are usually blends of a few grape types, such as Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, and Cinsault, but usually contain at least 40% Grenache. Finding Côte du Rhône wines […]
Côtes du Rhône Clash Read More »
For our June wine tasting, David chose the white wines of the Rhône Valley in France. While the Rhône is more often recognized for its reds, it also produces a great deal of white wines, made from less familiar grapes such as Marsanne, Roussane, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, and Clairette. There are many Rhône
Battle of the Rhône Valley Whites (And Two Reds) Read More »
David feels that wines are meant for consumption. He feels that wines should not be held in a cellar just for impressing people with their expense or rarity. Rather, they should be enjoyed (when ready) with people who can appreciate them, and learn from tasting them. The format for this tasting was of four
Cellar Inventory Reduction Read More »
One of the gems of the northern Rhone Valley of France is the appellation of Côte-Rôtie. Meaning “roasted slope,” it is a relatively small growing area, consisting of small, difficult to farm terraces. As the name would imply, it is a very, very warm place to grow grapes. Only red wines are produced in
Among the many appellations in the Loire Valley, the one most famous for its whites is Sancerre. The mention of Sancerre brings to mind images of the summer, of refreshment, and of clarity. Located in the eastern Loire, Sancerre is dominated by chalky limestone soils, and although red wines and rosé are also produced
Without question, the greatest of all southern Rhône appellations is Châteauneuf-du-Pape. A large, hot growing area, the wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are built for power, allied with earthiness. The minimum alcohol level for these wines is specified by law at 12.5%, and up to 13 different varieties of grape are allowed in their blends. Although there
Châteauneuf Shootout Read More »
The October wine tasting takes us back to Bordeaux, but this time into its reds. Among the many Bordeaux appellations, St. Emilion is one of the largest, and since their blends contain a larger proportion of Merlot, they are also earlier drinking. The town of St. Emilion is also said to be the prettiest and
St. Emilion Slugfest Read More »
The red wines of the Bordeaux region of France never have to worry about their white co-stars getting too much applause. The whites are always under-appreciated compared to the big, classic and show-stealing reds, and it’s been this way for hundreds of years. But staying out of the limelight has its advantage: price. While there
White Bordeaux Bash Read More »
The 2002 vintage in Burgundy is being praised as perhaps the best of the past 10 years. Burgundy producers have flaunted that it is difficult to find a poor wine in the 2002 vintage. Navigating the wines of Burgundy can be a challenge because of the hundreds of appellations that make up the region.
Red Burgundy Battle Read More »
Champagne, like most French wines, refers to both a type of wine and a place. The region of Champagne surrounds the towns of Reims and Epernay, in northern France. A very cool growing area, the grapes of chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot menuier end the season with plenty of acidity when picked. These brightly accented
Champagne Challenge Read More »