2010 Clos Marie L’Olivette Pic Saint Loup, Languedoc, France
Half Syrah and half Grenache, this value vino picks up a certain savoriness from the vineyard, which is not far from the ocean’s salty breeze. But whereas Clos Marie’s Manon white bottling shows more of a saline quality, this savoriness merely… Read more
2011 Pierre Gonon Chasselas, Rhone Valley, France
The northern Rhone Valley is known for its red wines, and so white wines from the region are already a bit of an anomaly. Make it a wine made from the Chasselas grape, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Pierre Gonon’s 2011 offering was… Read more
2009 Nicolas Perrin Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone Valley, France
A whiff of alcohol blows off maybe a minute after opening, and this wine’s brawny Shiraz juice starts to strut its stuff. Still young and fruit-forward, there’s also a liveliness and acidity which brings balance to a wine that frequently can seem… Read more
2010 La Fleur d’Amelie Rouge, Bordeaux
(By Chateau de Sours.) Translucent ruby/crimson color. As the vineyard is a stone’s throw from Pomerol, it is no surprise that this red blend is primarily (75%) Merlot. The other grapes are Cabernet Franc (20%) and Petit Verdot (5%). A flowery… Read more
2012 Chateau de Sours Rosé, Bordeaux
Light pink color with shadings of copper. The seductive nose shows white chocolate laced with haunting whiffs of raspberry and other red fruits. There’s a plump fruit sweetness upon entry to the palate, gracefully trailing off to a dry finish that… Read more
2011 Chateau de Sours Blanc, Bordeaux
A traditional blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon, this wine is a very pale emerald green color. Warm scents of smoke and barrel rooms, with an underpinning of flint and minerals, lead to prickly notes of lime. Once in the mouth, the… Read more
2011 Mai et Kenji Hodgson ‘O Galarneau’ Vin Rouge, Anjou, Loire Valley, France
Mai and Kenji Hodgson might not entirely look the part of natural winemakers in France — one is from British Columbia and the other is from Japan — but this clear tasting, unfussy Cabernet Franc fits the mold. Roasted red pepper jam and dark plum… Read more
2010 Sebastien Bobinet ‘Greta Carbo,’ Saumur-Champigny, Loire Valley, France
Bobinet’s name graces some of the most delicious, drinkable wines from the Saumur region, and so it’s no surprise that his are a staple at some of Paris’ hottest restaurants. Food friendly and yet hardly vapid or light, this Cabernet Franc from… Read more
2010 Domaine Les Alexandrins “Intuition”, Collines Rhodaniennes, France
Organic Gamay from the Rhone Hills, this is a rustic, food-friendly wine well-suited to grilled meats, especially BBQ chicken. Fire up the grill and enjoy well-balanced berry and green herb notes. On the nose, menthol, plums and tobacco. MSRP:… Read more
2004 Domaine Viticole Renouard ‘Scamandre,’ Rhone Valley, France
At least lately, I have opened far too many Rhone Valley wines, only to be a bit underwhelmed by their supposed intense / flavor-forward tendencies. Is green fruit to blame? A string of bad luck? I can’t speak for more current vintages, but… Read more
