And back to wines, season is getting better, we are in March and had a mild winter so far. I am looking forward to wine events in my area, and to go out again on my road warrior tours of my belle France. For now, let me tell you again about the series, wines news of France!!! Hope you enjoy it as I.
The owner of 4 Grands Crus Classés among the most prestigious terroirs of Bordeaux and 42 vineyards around the world, Bernard Magrez has launched since 2013 a study on the effects of climate change on viticulture. The ORACLE La Tour Carnet – Bordeaux 2050 project will aim to simulate the impact of global warming on vines and wine by 2050 and to study the adaptation of different grape varieties to new climatic conditions. A question then arises: will Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc still be the best suited grape varieties to produce Bordeaux Grands Crus Classés? Should we change the way we grow them to preserve the aromatic palette and unique balance that characterizes the Grands Vins de Bordeaux? Based on the experience of the technical teams and the scientific center of the Bernard Magrez vineyards, a unique system has been developed at Château La Tour Carnet, Grand Cru Classé in 1855, in Médoc. This system will make it possible from 2022 to generate a warming of the temperatures encountered locally by the vines, accelerating the development cycles of the grapes accordingly. Developed using state-of-the-art technologies borrowed from the aeronautical industry, the system will make it possible to simulate the effects of climate change by 2050 and thus predict the most suitable grape varieties for the production of high quality wines in the climate of the Bordeaux of tomorrow. To complete this process, the facilities of the ORACLE La Tour Carnet – Bordeaux 2050 project are supplemented by a dedicated vinification vat, made up of 84 temperature-controlled vats allowing the separate vinification of each of the grape varieties in the study. It will thus make it possible to measure the potential of these grape varieties and the wines that will be produced from them as a way of adapting to climate change. webpage: https://bernard-magrez.com/en/home-2/
This so-called “garage wine” movement was born in the early 1990s in Saint-Emilion, with the emergence of a new kind of winegrowers, who produced very small quantities, on very small surfaces, and very often with limited, even precarious means, high quality wines. In the vineyards, the work was also extremely meticulous, with severe pruning to limit yields and grapes harvested by hand. One of the first to popularize these micro-cuvées of the modern era was the Bordelais Jean-Luc Thunevin, with his Château Valandraud: a plot of 60 ares cultivated like a garden from 1989 in the lower part of the village of Saint-Emilion . Before him, in 1979, Jacques Thienpont had created Le Pin in Pomerol, from two hectares of Merlot. Since then, the phenomenon has grown and spread, even become commonplace, garages have become pretty cellars… Among the pioneers and most emblematic, in Saint-Emilion, La Mondotte, Péby-Faugères, Gracia or even Rol-Valentin.
Former US President Donald Trump inaugurates his own wine bar, The former President of the United States has just inaugurated a bar bearing his own image, 45 Wine and Whiskey, within the Trump Tower. On the right, just next to a very patriotic row of American flags in XXL format, appears 45 Wine and Whiskey, the new bar in honor of the 45th President of the United States. Lord wine is everywhere!!!
Overwhelmed since last week by calls and emails from French citizens wishing to help Ukraine, its honorary consul in Bordeaux, Laurent Fortin, calls on the French wine sector to mobilize. “We will need funds to send medicine and clothes to Ukraine. It’s winter there! says the general manager of Château Dauzac (grand cru classé in 1855 in Margaux). Laurent Fortin, who wishes to demonstrate that “in Bordeaux we are not locked behind the gates of our castles, as one might sometimes think”. Yes time to show your true colors folks. The services of the honorary consul can be contacted via the address ukraine.aquitaine@gmail.com
Collection, the new incarnation of the brut premier of Roederer . The Champagnes Roederer has decided to deconstruct the blend. Having become a Collection, the House’s brut now draws, and above all, from reserve wines. They are the matrix of the assembly that the current year punctuates. This inversion, a small revolution, changes the game. With Collection, the goal of brut is no longer consistency, but the search for perfection with each new edition. In short, no more ready-made recipe but the expression of a work of composition, terroirs and vintages claimed, masterfully led by Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, cellar master of the House, Collection 242 perfectly keeps this promise. At the heart of the reactor: reserve wines aged in wood 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 1/3 from the Perpetual Reserve. All complemented by the best wines of 2017, the 242nd harvest of the House. Hence the number of this inaugural Collection cuvée. Roederer’s “Premier” style is there , freshness, precision, finesse, but gains in substance, becomes more caressing, enveloping, more greedy and complex. Dominated by Chardonnay, particularly remarkable in 2017, notes of toasted hazelnut are expressed with subtlety. Its saline finish is salivating. A 242 that definitely makes you want to become… a collector! webpage: https://www.louis-roederer.com/en/collection242
Long considered a pick-me-up to be swallowed at the counter, Calvados is changing course today. Cider brandy no longer counts as plums.
Christian Drouin – Millésime 2002 Calvados Pays d’Auge, The youngest of the Drouin vintages benefited from a finish in Rivesaltes barrels after aging in old Calvados barrels. A stunning freshness with frank apple aromas from the neck and touches of candied fruit with a comforting sweetness for the palate. Classic, but with an extra soul. webpage; https://calvados-drouin-boutique.com/collections/millesimes/products/millesime-2002-calvados-pays-dauge
Château du Breuil – Le Breuil Légende, Calvados Pays d’Auge .Château du Breuil, an AOC Pays d’Auge, a blend of a selection of out-of-age distillates aged in the cellars of the famous property near Lisieux. Subtly woody, revealing a beautiful aromatic palette, this eau-de-vie ends with an elegant spicy finish. Available from March 1. webpage: https://spiriterie.com/en/shop-en/?filter=1&pa_distiller=du-breuil-castle
The National Institute of Origin and Quality authorizes the creation of “crus” within Complementary Geographical Denominations. A proposal resulting from a report by the prioritization working group of the National Institute of Origin and Quality (INAO). Until now, within each Controlled Designation of Origin (AOC), certain more restricted territories could add a Complementary Geographical Denomination (DGC). An example ? The DGC Notre Dame des Anges, which since 2020 has brought together 10 Var municipalities within the Côtes-de-Provence appellation. The problem, this work of delimiting specific micro-terroirs is almost endless… The DGCs have multiplied over the years. Until they lose some of their value to consumers. Hence the idea of creating a hierarchical level within them. Thus, some DCGs will now be able to add the mention “cru” on their labels, which will give “nom de AOC + cru DGC”. To hope to add “cru” to their labels, the DGC’s must be those of a locality or an area of no more than 1 to 10 villages/towns, have a homogeneous terroir and specific production conditions, and finally, be recognized by professionals, especially during tastings. webpage INAO: https://www.inao.gouv.fr/eng/The-National-Institute-of-origin-and-quality-Institut-national-de-l-origine-et-de-la-qualite-INAO
About ten years ago Laurent Cisneros bought in Canéjan, in the Pessac Léognan appellation, the very beautiful Château Rouillac. After doing rigorous work to raise the quality of his wines, he has just launched his own distribution brand: the “Maison Cisneros”. A high-end brand based on values of sincerity and authenticity. Roots in Charentes where he owns a heating company, but also in Spain: his father is from San Martin de Valdeiglesias, a wine-growing village in the community of Madrid. This desire to cultivate its roots is reflected in the Château Rouillac boutique, created in 2010 and redone in October 2021. Also the project to revive its 2 hectares of vines, “el Moulino quemado” (burnt mill), in San Martin de Valdeiglesias (Vinos de Madrid DO): a qualitative vine because the area of San Martin de Valdeiglesias seems the most interesting of the appellation by its soil composed of decomposing granite and a more humid climate than the rest of the appellation. Laurent’s wine will soon be on the shelves of the Maison Cisneros house, at Château Rouillac where you can already see a few other bottles of Spanish wines, which find their origins in the beautiful encounters that Laurent has had. webpage: https://www.chateauderouillac.com/
The appellation highlights Malbec, its king grape variety, and two geological origins that combine from the banks of the Lot to the heights of the Causses. At the crossroads of Atlantic, Mediterranean and continental influences, the Cahors vineyard covers the ancient terraces of the Lot and the hillsides and limestone and marl-limestone plateaus which dominate them. In the middle of the 19C, before the ravages of phylloxera, Quercy had one of the largest vineyards in the country with 47,000 hectares planted, mainly on the poorest and stoniest land, the most fertile areas being dedicated to cultivation. cereals. Since 1971, 21,700 hectares have been classified as AOC, of which 3,323 are now planted. The alluvial soils now cover 60% of the vineyard on the three former terraces of the Lot which range from 90 to 250 meters above sea level. A wonderful wine of the black wine of Cahors, more info: https://vindecahors.fr/cs-en/
A wine from the AOC Fronton (wine from the Sud-Ouest (south-west and emblematic of Toulouse!! ), composed of 100% of its emblematic grape variety, the Négrette. This wine, born on a soil of boulbène, represents its appellation well. It presents an exceptional nose on a chalky and calcareous side, with black and red fruits, with a personality and a typicality specific to the Négrette. On the palate, it has a greedy and tight character, with small, fine tannins and surprising length. It leaves the mouth fresh, on ripe fruit. When you have already tasted Négrette, you never forget it! This pure Négrette comes from the Vignobles Arbeau & Château Coutinel estate, in Fronton, certified organic since 2021. webpage: https://www.vins-de-fronton.fr/39-famille-arbeau-coutinel
The former Salon Gastronomique et Vins of Vannes has becomes this year Aux Vignobles. I have my invitation for March 11, 12, 13,14, 2022 , We look forward to see again the Aux Délices Catalans, Aux Goût du Monde, the Caves Rougebec (Vouvray Touraine) , Champagne Lagille,Château Fonbaude (côtes Bordeaux/Castillon), Château Lambert (Fronsac) ; Château Tour Birol (côtes de bourg) ,Ferme Aguerria (foie gras), La Rose Pauillac(Pauillac) ,La Pose Catalane (saucissons), Maison Guibert (Tarn charco cheeses), Maison Gastellou, Vignobles La Rodaie (st nicolas bourgueil), Roxane et Cyrano (Bergerac), And a lot more, we go every year,(see posts), except with the covid and now back and a new name and format : I will be there ! Webpage: https://www.auxvignobles.fr/vannes/
The above event held at the Parc Expo Le Chorus, directions here : https://www.lechorus.com/fr/infos-pratiques
What wines for a terrine de campagne or country terrine? The “country terrine” obeys very specific rules: exclusively composed of meat (pork, possibly a little veal, but above all the dedicated game, wild or not: hare, wild boar, duck, pheasant…), it is distinguished by its assertive flavors, as welcome at the country snack as at the family picnic in the summer. No old and complex grand cru here, but on the contrary the fruitiness and freshness of youth, whose vigor will resist the power of the dish. No light and aromatic whites either (Muscat, Sauvignon), but those from the South (Rhône Valley, Provence, Languedoc), much more structured, will be able to hold their place. However, here we rather imagine bright reds, whose tannins will match the creaminess of the recipe. There you go from a wine aficionado!!
There you go folks, more of the wonderful world of wines of France! Hope you enjoy the post as I. En vino veritas!!! And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
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