Well, we are right in conditional winter already with temps dipping below freezing celsius , and December 21st is the so call start of winter so much for dates. Anyway, always good to bring the best of Wines news of France. First ,thanks to all my readers and/or followers! Oh yeah, the wines of France are just super simply awesome and a great tradition. Often imitated, some time equaled ,but never surpass! Let me give you some news shall we. Hope you enjoy it as I.
Bordeaux Tasting 2022 From December 10 to 11 from 10h to 18h30, Palais de la Bourse de Bordeaux, For this 11th and new edition, Bordeaux Tasting is renewing itself by offering unique tasting areas, open to different wine worlds: Wines from Bordeaux and elsewhere at the Palais de la Bourse; Champagnes at Bordeaux World Heritage; Spirits such as Cognac, Armagnac, gin, rum and whiskey at the Customs Museum Info webpage : https://www.jds.fr/bordeaux/foires-salons-brocantes/foires-et-salons/bordeaux-tasting-176733_A
The history of La Conseillante, one of the most famous Pomerol wines , begins in the 18C. Catherine Conseillan, a metal merchant in Libourne, built a 12-hectare vineyard between 1735 and 1776 and had the castle we know today built. She gave her name to the estate in 1754. After several changes of owners, the estate was acquired in 1871 by the merchant brothers Louis and Nicolas Nicolas, who gave it a new lease of life. It remains in the Nicolas family to this day. Since 2003, the fifth generation, embodied by Jean-Valmy and his cousins Bertrand and Henri Nicolas, has managed the family property. The management has been provided since 2015 by Marielle Cazaux, oenologist, who benefits from the wise advice of Michel Rolland. The 12 ha vineyard is planted with merlot (80%) and cabernet franc (20%), on clay-gravelly soil and a subsoil of iron filth. The average age of the vines is 35 years , with a structure of the vineyard unchanged since 1871, La Conseillante has been able to maintain a great consistency of quality over the centuries. At harvest time, the grapes are harvested manually and are selected on four tables for sorting! The circular vat room, built in 2012, has 22 small concrete vats, adapted to the different terroirs of the property, and thus allowing parcel vinification (for 16 micro-parcels). The aging lasts 18 months. Since 2007, La Conseillante has been producing a second wine called Duo de Conseillante. energy, freshness and a great, distinguished Pomerol. A safe bet indeed, Webpage : https://www.la-conseillante.com/
The artist Peter Doig’s ode to Château Mouton Rothschild, Unveiled yesterday Thursday December 1,2022 for the label of the 2020 vintage of Pauillac’s premier grand cru is signed by the British painter of Scottish origin, a major figure in contemporary art. Webpage : https://www.chateau-mouton-rothschild.com/label-art/discover-the-artwork/peter-doig
In The Virtues of Wine. Dédiabolisons une consommation modérée et bénéfique pour la santé or Let’s de-demonize moderate and beneficial consumption for health , published by Favre,on the work research of Dr. Jean-Pierre Rifler, who has been working on the subject for 30 years, is very clear: consumed in moderation, wine is good for health and longevity. He recommends a hemin of wine per day per monk, this corresponds to three glasses These polyphenols, powerful antioxidants, are soluble in alcohol. This is why half a glass of red wine is equal to four liters of tea in antioxidant power. Polyphenols are our healthy life extenders. For the Alzheimer’s disease free radicals destroy nerve cells and their connections, Polyphenols, which slow down cellular aging, protect us from this. The positive effect of wine on neurodegeneration has been confirmed by numerous studies. wine protects the arteries. Alcohol increases the size of blood vessels and therefore lowers blood pressure. There’s no better antidepressant than a glass of wine. It’s better than Valium! I know this for years but good many works have come out since the Pandora effect to prove this again, drink wine in moderation but drink it! The Virtues of Wine, a story by Jean-Pierre Rifler, Available online at the editor Favre webpage : https://www.editionsfavre.com/livres/les-vertus-du-vin/
Former basketball player and NBA star, playmaker for the San Antonio Spurs,Tony Parker recently announced his purchase of Château Noël Saint-Laurent near Avignon. Like singers, directors, athletes or comedians such as Kylie Minogue, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Jon Bon Jovi, Ridley Scott, George Lucas or more recently Patrick Bruel, the former basketball player knows how to handle the art of rebound After teaming up with Michel Reybier ,including owner of Château Cos d’Estournel in Saint-Estèphe , who offered the ex-basketball player to join him in his adventures within the Domaine de la Mascaronnein Provence and in the Jeeper champagnes, the quadruple NBA champion is once again attacking the vineyards of the south of France.This in Morières-les-Avignon, near Avignon in the Vaucluse dept 84 , in order to produce his own Côtes-du-Rhône at Château Noël Saint-Laurent. The building was built in the 13C and belonged since the 1950s to Noël, a family of winemakers. Tony Parker will be in charge of a 40 ha vineyard, made up of various grape varieties such as syrah, grenache, cinsault, viognier and roussanne, whose first harvests were carried out last summer. Journal La Provence info webpage : https://www.laprovence.com/actu/locales-en-direct/6972736/morieres-les-avignon-tony-parker-achete-le-chateau-noel-saint-laurent.html
Wine connoisseurs are familiar with the flagship grape variety of Burgundy red wines: Pinot Noir. They know that within this same family are listed more than 200 different personalities. As in any society, some adapt better than others to change. In Vosne-Romanée, the plots of Romanée Saint-Vivant formerly owned by the monks of Bergy – adjoin those of Romanée-Conti. On one side, there are the Richebourgs. On the other, we find the Gaudichots, the Grande Rue, the Tâche. The borders between these different districts here, are called “climats” which each have their own history, are made up of winding alleys that only sales and complicated agreements between winemakers can explain. Maison Louis Latour which has 0.76 hectares of the plot of Romanée Saint-Vivant Les Quatre Journaux a name that refers (since 1898) to an old measure corresponding to the area plowed by a winemaker in one day. At Louis Latour, the grapes are harvested very ripe. They are happy to be the last to harvest. The grands crus of Burgundy are not the most generous in volume. This produces 3,600 bottles in good years. In 2020, they had to settle for 1,000. The prices are high. It takes several hundred euros for a bottle of Romanée-Saint-Vivant. Which remains affordable compared to the prices of Romanée-Conti, just next door. Webpage : https://www.louislatour.com/en/
What are my best champagnes with little or no dosage to serve for the Holidays? Let me tell you,,, Leclerc Briant Grand Blanc 2014 Brut Nature, the nose evokes Champagne cellars, with its smells of chalk and mushroom, supported by notes of yellow fruits and honey. The wine is creamy, subtly floral, saline and straightforward, sharp and complex. Telmont Sans Sulfur 2013 Extra Brut the nose is like a walk in the forest in the fall, with its notes of undergrowth and honey. The palate is fruity and greedy, exhaling touches of quince jelly and apricot tart. Devaux Ultra D Extra Brut the nose is both fresh and precise, mineral and floral. The wine is beautifully straight, sharp and iodized like a wave bursting on the sea coast. A great gastronomic wine, Tarlant Zéro Brut Nature with its fresh and delicate, floral and spicy notes, this champagne is bewitching like a moonlight walk in a garden scented with jasmine. It is frank, authentic, subtly saline and lemony. Philipponnat Royale Réserve non-dosed , the nose is both floral and fruity (ripe yellow fruit, plum, small touches of red fruit). The wine is ripe, chiseled like lace, with a beautiful harmony. Roederer Brut Nature 2015 ,this cuvée imagined in collaboration with Philippe Starck offers the scents of a basket of freshly picked yellow fruits, with exotic touches. The wine is creamy, greedy with mineral and saline touches that bring it pep, Pommery Cuvée Louise 2006, Brut Nature despite its age, the champagne offers a very fresh, floral and delicate nose, mixed with notes of ripe yellow fruit and honey candy. The palate is particularly complex, with hints of mushroom, chalk and fresh walnut; A great gastronomic wine. Enjoy them all I say !
I have tried lately this Champagne and was well worth it,(see above). For more than 10 years, the J. de Telmont house has been offering an original journey into the sparkling world of Champagne through its thematic workshops, exclusive and privileged moments open to all. On a 33-hectare estate, one-third of which is biodynamically cultivated, Maison J. de Telmont produces Champagnes particularly suitable for the table, appreciated for their vinosity, their elegance and the finesse of their bubbles. Cultivation, vinification, tasting…Henri Lhopital, founder of the house with a parcel-based cuvée vinified in tuns and traditional riddling on desks, Follows now by Bertrand Lhopital, 4th generation of a family of winegrowers in the vineyards of Damery, Webpage : https://fr.champagne-telmont.com/
Good wine houses and good friends over the years
The Domaine de l’Ancienne Cure has been a family business for 5 generations (since the 19C) and one of the flagship properties of Bergerac, which Christian Roche inherited in 1984. Very committed to the environment, the estate is certified organic since 2012 (started organic conversion in 2009). Located 10 km from Bergerac, in Colombier, the property currently covers 50 hectares of vines with a predominance of white vines (33 hectares), 17 hectares being dedicated to the production of reds and rosés. A wide range of wines is produced in different appellations: Pécharmant, Monbazillac, Bergerac red, dry and rosé, Côtes de Bergerac. Pécharmant L’Abbaye 2019 – Red; Bergerac Sec Fruit Day 2021 – White; Monbazillac L’Abbaye 2015 – White; Bergerac Dry Fruit Day 2021 – White, webpage : https://www.domaine-anciennecure.fr/
The Maison Labastide is a winemaker founded in 1949, anchored in the heart of Occitanie region . The oldest cooperative winery in the Tarn dept 81, Labastide has established itself over the years as a major player in its native land: the Gaillacois vineyard.(Gaillac), Since its creation, the cooperative winegrowers have defended the production of quality wines, with a strong winegrower identity with local grape varieties from the 4 terroirs of the Gaillac appellation. The bubble belonging to the Tarnaise winegrower culture, Maison Labastide has been producing it since its creation, like its emblematic wine, the Gaillac perlé. Maison Labastide relies on a strong and complementary approach: the know-how resulting from the heritage of its winegrowers and the innovation brought by the technical tools and by the team of oenologists to develop wines in phase with the expectations of today’s consumer. Good wines are Esprit de Labastide 2017 – White, Château Bournet 2016 – Red, Esprit de Labastide 2017 – Rosé, webpage : https://www.cave-labastide.com/
Located between Albi, Toulouse and Montauban, Château Lastours is an old family property, in the heart of the Gaillac Appellation. In particular, there are archives dating from 1579 attesting to the presence of the Faramond family within the estate. It is in this pretty vineyard near the Tarn River that they cultivate our 60 hectares of vines. You will be able to follow and discover the contribution of the Benedictine Monks of the Abbey of Saint Michel de Gaillac as well as the Counts of Toulouse to the accomplishment of what our vineyard is today. Our terroir, both gravelly and siliceous, brings balance and finesse to wines of elegant complexity. Today, we are surrounded by a young and dynamic team, with recognized know-how. We try to welcome you in the simplest and warmest way possible. Our welcome is above all marked by conviviality and the desire to reconcile modernity and tradition in this place rich in history. You will discover the majestic alley of plane trees leading to the Château and its French garden…Good wines are Blanc Sec Les Graviers 2021 – White, Method Ancestral Mauzac 2021 – White, Method Ancestral Rosé 2021 – Rosé, Red Selection 2019 – Red, Cuvée du Pigeonnier 2019 – Red, Webpage :https://www.chateau-lastours.com/
From the vine to the bottling, Terra Vitis guarantees good traceability, good organization and good environmental management of the vineyard in sustainable agriculture. This French certification is gaining more and more followers, in particular because it takes into account the new standards of social responsibility. Born in Beaujolais more than two decades ago, Terra Vitis was a pioneer in sustainable development in the vineyard. In France, 5% of French wine-growing areas are certified Terra Vitis out of 220 AOP and IGP, which represents 45,000 hectares. among the members of the big names in French viticulture such as Château de Santenay, one of the most famous domains of the Côte de Beaune in Burgundy, Château Pape Clément Grand Cru Classé of Pessac-Léognan or Château Montlabert, Grand Cru of Saint-Émilion , Terra Vitis is deployed in seven wine regions, has 1,876 members and asserts itself as a certification dedicated to the wine industry, Another group basically to share costs as bio is more expensive, Webpage : https://www.terravitis.com/
The first paper bottle of wine will be marketed in France from 2023. An important step which marks the will of the actors of the wine sector to break with tradition to favor ecology. The impact on wine quality? None, provided it is drunk within 12 months for the white and rosé, or 18 months for the red. The objective of this initiative is to reduce the carbon impact of the sector. A featherweight 83 g, five times less than a glass bottle, a carbon footprint up to six times lower and a 100% recyclable device, compared to 70% for glass. This is the promise of Frugal, the world’s first paper wine bottle. At the origin of this revolution, the British company Frugalpac created by Malcom Waugh, Today, Frugalpac sells its bottles to 45 different customers across 19 countries including Italy, but also Spain, the United States, Canada, Japan, Scandinavia, Australia and South Africa. France is not to be outdone Under the brand La Bouteille will offer consumers a range of red, white and rosé wines below 10 euros, with the idea being to offer a quality French wine, organic or HVE certified with an additional ecological promise linked to its packaging, Yeah another ecolo cheap way to tell you wine taste the same lol !! Webpage : https://frugalpac.com/frugal-bottle/
The new discovery , a glass tank to preserve the purity and freshness of the grapes, an innovative alternative to the traditional wooden barrel. This last come on the market, marketed by the company Michael Paetzold for only two years under the Wineglobe brand, It builds in its headquarters in Cadaujac, south of Bordeaux in Gironde dept 33, They have an oven that can produce four models of tanks, including larger ones of 440 litres, a new trend in cooperage. has already conquered some 500 winegrowers in the world in search of excellence. As far as Bordeaux, where aging is traditionally done in oak barrels. During this test phase, the wine aged in eight of these 220-litre Pyrex vats , the equivalent of a barrel , revealing its golden brown color , could integrate the one aged in barrels during the final assembly. The ideal container for the white, the Wineglobe provides length, persistent freshness in the mouth and 50% more aromas, For the red, whose aging requires oxygen through the pores of the wood, its use is more complementary when assemblie, Other advantages reported: its perfect hygiene and the reduction in the use of sulfur dioxide, used for its antioxidant and antiseptic properties. Another ecolo techno gimmick but you know wood is it, Webpage : https://www.wineglobe.fr/en/
There you go folks, another wine episode of my belle France! The wines of France that is, superbe, sublime, wonderful, gorgeous, enjoy without moderation but accompanying a meal, family table just perfect. Stay warm and see you in the vineyards of France
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
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