Wine of the Week: Saint André de Figuière Rosé Cuveé Magali 2010

For the fourth year in a row, Bacara Resort and Spa in Santa Barbara has chosen this rosé as their featured rosé for the summer. This classic Provence rosé is a transparent salmon pink color. A flattering bouquet of citrus fruits and red fruit. Fresh and smooth on the palate, evoking the juiciness of apricots and grapefruit. A perfect rosé for all summer long.

Wine of the Week: Clos des Cordeliers Saumur Champigny 2009

For over three centuries, Le Clos des Cordeliers has been among the most celebrated vineyards in the Saumur area. References to the cultivation of vines at the domain date back to the early 17^th century. But it was the Cordeliers de Saumur, the Franciscan monks that acquired the estate in 1696, who gave the place its name and fame. Over the ensuing century, they established the ‘clos’ – the wall-enclosed vineyard – and produced wine that became coveted throughout the region.

Originating from vines planted on clay and chalk (tuffeau) soil, this wine offers the distinctive character of Cabernet Franc: deep and bright ruby color, fine aromas of red fruits (red current, cherry) and floral subtleties (violet, iris), fine and velvety tannin, with a fresh and balanced finish.

Best served below room temperature (14 to 16º C), Clos des Cordeliers Cuvée Tradition is at its prime when young and is the perfect companion for cold meats, roasted meats, grilled fish and cheese.

‎Wine of the Week: Chateau Mas Neuf Compostelle Rosé 2010

From the southernmost vineyards of the Rhone Valley, a very complex, delicate Rosé. A blend of Cinsaut (60%), Mourvèdre (30%), and 5% each of Grenache Blanc and Roussanne. Pale pink color with sky colored highlights. The nose reveals wild strawberry, raspberry and white flowers. On the palate, the supple entry is followed by freshness and minerality. A rosé to pair with summer BBQ grill.

Wine of the Week: La Croix Gratiot Pic Poul 2010

With the weather getting warmer, nothing is more refreshing than a light crisp low alcohol wine .

Situated between Bassin de Thau and hills of pines, the vineyard of La Croix Gratiot is near the village of Montagnac in the Languedoc.. The vines planted on a loamy-limestone soil profit from the marine trade winds and the scents of the scrubland. The wine is bright yellow with green highlights, intensely zingy with a clean scent of lime and white pepper. At 12.5% alcohol, this is a great wine to enjoy all summer long

Wine of the Week: Luc Lapeyre L’ Amourier 2008

Having crossed the threshold, as you remove your coat, take care to remove your watch as well. There is no longer any rush. We are now on vineyard time. It is now the vine, along with the climate, which decides. For some time now, we have synchronized our internal clocks with those of the plants. Having learned that fighting, forcing and bending are useless; we have instead dedicated our energy to observing, listening, breathing and maybe even understanding.

A bouquet of ripe black and red fruits, the wine palate is full-bodied. It has a soft attack but the sharp tannins that are drawn out in the aftertaste give it a perfect balance of “fullness and freshness.”

Wine of the Week: Yves Gangloff La Serine Noir 2007

A very special wine from a very special friend and vigernon.

This wine shares the lieux-dits of Combard- Mollard and Côte Rozier, which grow the oldest vines of the estate (average age 40 years ). Vinification is identical to Barbarine but focuses on the moderate extraction of the Syrah (100%). Destemming from 50 to 70%. The idea is to work the soil more but not the grape. Maturation in barrels, 50 to 80% in fresh/new wood, the others in barrels for 1 to 2 wines for 2 to 24 months.

From Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar Jan/Feb 2010:

Inky purple. Dark berries and kirsch on the nose, with hints of violet, cocoa and espresso adding complexity. Much more structured, rich and deep than the Barbarine but less vibrant. The sweet dark fruit flavors are framed by chewy tannins that fade into the fruit on the back end. Fans of large-scaled syrah will go for this. The finish is broad and pungent, with a strong echo of dark fruit lingering.

Wine of the Week: Dionysia Sancerre Vin Des Heros 2009

A Graduate of the wine school of Beaune and the University of Stellenbosch, August Natter embraces the diversity of vinification and wine elaboration practiced in France and abroad. Impassioned by the history and identity of the locations where his wine is produced, Natter exhaustively studies cultivation, varietals, soils, and history.

Color: Yellow, golden highlights

Nose: An explosive bouquet mingling aromas of box, broom and melon.

In the mouth: A supple foretaste, fresh and full tasting in the mouth.
The characteristic nose being enriched with citrusy flavors.

An ideal accompaniment to endive and Chavignol goat cheese “en papilotte,” two fish Carpaccio, rabbit terrine with hazelnuts, a tournedos of turkey with citrus fruits, snails.

Wine of the Week: Halos de Jupiter Cotes Du Rhone 2009

“According to poets, Jupiter (Zeus in Greek) is the father, the king of all gods and humans. He rules on mount Olympus and his power is such that he can shake the entire universe by a simple nod of the head.He also represents the spiritual world, organizes the exterior world and is the god of all physical, moral and social rules. According to Mircea Eliade, he is the archetypical head of a patriarchal family.Jupiter is also the biggest planet of our solar system and its Halo is the closest of the three rings that surround the planet.For  me Grenache is the king of all grapes and the natural leader of all Rhone varietals. The halo symbolizes the appellations that best express its personality.”

Philippe Cambie

From The Wine Advocate,  Issue 191

An outrageous wine sourced from Visan, Cairanne and Rasteau is the 2009 Cotes du Rhone. Dominated by Grenache, it comes across like a mini-Chateauneuf du Pape. Its dark ruby/purple color is followed by boisterous kirsch, sandy, loamy soil, tobacco leaf, pepper and spice notes. Generously endowed, round, silky textured and explosively fruity, it is an enormously satisfying wine to drink over the next 3-4 years

Wine of the Week: Jean Royer Le Petit Roy 2008

The Royer family has been growing wine in Châteauneuf-du-Pape for over a hundred years.

The father of Jean-Marie Royer died when Jean-Marie was a child and for some years all their land was let out to other vignerons. As a young man, Jean Royer helped his grandmother in her small vineyards, and when she died, he inherited a small part of her fields. In 1985, having finished his viticulture schooling, Jean-Marie returned to the family vineyards, and over the years has bought more land from the family. Today he owns 6 ha with 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah/Mourvedre.

The Petit Roy grapes come from a parcel on the commune of Chateauneuf du Pape, which borders oxbow lakes of the Rhone beyond the AOC area (Syrah, Grenache). They also come from a parcel located between Chateauneuf du Pape and Orange within the Cotes du Rhône AOC.

The philosophy and vinification governing this vintage are identical to the Chateauneuf du Pape, right down to the bottling.

Wine of the Week: Domaine Michel David Muscadet “Clos du Ferre” 2009

With the weather warming up and after a bowl of seafood gumbo, I am thinking about a refreshing crisp white wine. And this week we are having a glass of Domaine Michel David Muscadet “Clos du Ferré” 2009.

The David family has been making Muscadet since 1927, when Stéphane David’s great-grandfather started working 1.5 hectares in the heart of Vallet, Muscadet’s vinous capital. Since then the domaine has increased dramatically to 24 hectares. In 2009, Stéphane took over from his father, Michel, although father and son and worked together since the 1997 vintage.

Luminous, mid-depth appearance with distinct green hints. Very clean and fresh on entry with a typical saline edge. There is a leaner focus to the acidity, but this is fattened out by the riper profile of the 2009 vintage, along with the extended time spent on the lees. Excellent structure and length. This is drinking now but has the potential to age positively for another five years or so.