Well, we are already in Spring, we are now 14C or about 57F clear skies in my neck of the woods. Anyway, always good to bring the best of Wines news of France. By the way for the non Romans XLV is no 45, First ,thanks to all my readers and/or followers since November 26 2010 of my blog! 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.
From December 8,2023 the rules for labeling wine bottles will take a new turn. Now we focus on transparency. Additives, ingredients, nutritional values… Consumers will soon be able to know everything about the wines they taste. If in 40 years the sector had not undergone any changes, in the end the struggle of consumer associations in Brussels had the last word. At the end of 2021, the 27 organizations agreed to revise the COM regulations. Their primary goal? Bringing transparency to Europeans and preventing possible trade barriers between states. If today, the label already specifies certain important information such as the name of the AOC or the IGP, the alcohol level, the capacity, the origin, the name of the bottler, the allergens or even a health message for pregnant women, now the information will be even more advanced. The new regulations will, for example, force winegrowers to mention on the labels the additives they use. If the wine is, indeed, made from grapes, it may also contain added sugars, additives or preservatives. Thanks to these provisions, consumers will have a clear idea of the nutritional value and the ingredients that make up the wine before buying it. Another disguise to minimize the drinking of wine and disapperance of traditions, Wine has been proving clinically that is good for you with moderation, Webpage :https://www.agrovin.com/en/the-new-rules-on-wine-labeling-entering-into-force/
As every year, the Nuits-Saint-Georges estate in Burgundy, owned by the hospices of the same name, sold its wines from the 2022 vintage at auction. The opportunity to break a record and highlight the 19 cuvées of this unusual area. The domain of the Hospices de Nuits-Saint-Georges is atypical since it belongs to the city hospital, which operates it directly. It was built up over the centuries by donations, the first bequest was made in 1688 by Hugues Perdrizet. However, he had to wait until 2023 for him to have a cuvée in his name. Today, the estate extends over a little over 12 ha, with the particularity, apart from a plot of Gevrey-Chambertin, of being exclusively located in the Nuits-Saint-Georges appellation. It thus comprises eight parcels with the village appellation, grouped into four cuvées, as well as nine premier crus, including the monopoly “Les Didiers” and “Les Saint-Georges”, a climate which gave its name to the village of Nuits and which is a candidate for the grown in grand cru. The wines, after barely six months of aging, are already showing their best side, with fresh and fruity profiles, great depth, intensity and energy rarely felt. Webpage :https://www.hospicesdenuits.com/
The aura of Burgundy wines internationally is not weakening, on the contrary, 2022 sets a new record. With 1.5 billion euros in revenue, the export of Burgundy is up 12.9% compared to 2021 for a revenue of 1.5 billion euros. All the main markets are on the rise, particularly in the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan. Webpage :https://www.bourgogne-wines.com/
Michel-Jack Chasseuil, the man with 50,000 bottles, organizes private visits to his cellar, His cellar contains a treasure: more than 50,000 bottles, including 5,000 spirits from 140 producers in 40 countries. Pétrus, Margaux, Mouton cohabit with Moet, Roederer and even a Relsky vodka from 1721, a cognac from 1889. The Michel-Jack Chasseuil International Wines and Arts Museum, opened last February 17 2023, For 200 euros, by appointment, twice a week , groups of eight people can visit this unique cellar in the world. On the program: descent into the cellar, visit of the “alcoholarium” and its 5,000 spirits, then the white wine cellar, that of champagne and magnums, and finally the sanctuary: a space 50 meters long where the biggest names wine and their best years are stuck against the walls, His Facebook page :https://www.facebook.com/MichelJackChasseuil/?locale=fr_FR
On the right bank of the Rhône, caught in the meanders of the river, Saint-Joseph slips its rows of vines and is scattered among varied soils, climates and terroirs. It is on these lands colonized by Syrah that a few plants of Roussanne and Marsanne come into resistance. La Cave de Tain 2021 In an assumed modern style, with a beautiful woody touch, this white unfolds a relatively opulent juice, Webpage :https://www.cavedetain.com/en/saint-joseph.html
The Saint Mont Vignoble en Fête , the 26th edition of this not-to-be-missed event in the South-West can be proud of the efforts made by local winegrowers to ensure the preservation of the region’s identity ampelographic heritage. During the three days of festivities in Saint-Mont and in a dozen surrounding villages, the winegrowers organize exceptional visits and open doors to historic sites at the monastery of the Benedictine abbey of Saint-Mont, founded around 1050 and whose priory was attached to the order of Cluny, to the castles of Arricau-Bordes, Sabazan and Saint-Go. Above all, it will be an opportunity to visit the famous plot of vines located in the village of Sarragachies, the first in France to have been classified as a Historic Monument in 2012. Located on the hillside of Ninan (AOC Saint-Mont), the twelve rows have 600 vines in double feet arranged in a square. Some would have been planted in 1830, which would make them the oldest in France still in production. In 1979, the cellars of Plaisance, Aignan and Saint-Mont united to create the union of Plaimont cooperators. Since then, Plaimont has acquired remarkable estates and buildings while restoring emblematic vineyards. It now represents 98% of the Saint-Mont appellation (red, white and rosé), 55% of the Madiran and Pacherenc-du-Vic-Bilh appellations and almost half of the Côtes-de-Gascogne. Having become the leader in South-West wines, the cooperative is today the symbol of an exemplary experience for many groups of French and foreign winegrowers. So, more than ever, the detour is essential in March 24-26 in this vineyard of the South West which celebrates! Webpage :https://www.plaimont.com/saint-mont-vignoble-en-fete-2023/
As Primeurs Week approaches, Château Malartic-Lagravière, Cru Classé de Graves, announces the sale of an exclusive NFT collection of 150 engraved and numbered magnums of the 2022 vintage. from a unique barrel, made by Maison Moussié and heated with lava rock. These 150 magnums will go on sale on April 12 2023 on the coming platform at a price of 250€ including tax. They will be physically available in November 2024. Webpage: https://www.intercellar.io/
Inaugurated at the start of summer 2016, the Cité du Vin has transformed the Bacalan district in Bordeaux and has become a symbol of the city’s identity The Cité du Vin de Bordeaux has had almost 8 years to collect feedback from visitors to readjust each step, and it works! The permanent course is breathtakingly beautiful and ingenious, it thrills the 5 senses and tickles our imagination. The visit lasts between 2 to 3 hours or even more. If you are in a hurry or interested in a particular subject, you can choose a theme: art-heritage, tasting, gastronomy, nature environment, wine making… The audiophone is very pleasant and easy to use. Four main themes punctuate your walk, which naturally goes from one activity to another: The Vineyards of the World, Know-how, Art of Living, Le Vin Voyageur, Bordeaux. Those who have already visited the Cité du Vin will be reassured, the buffet of the five senses has not disappeared. Huge bells containing beautifully staged aromas allow you to find their smells by operating a pump. You can also find the textures of wine to the touch. And it’s always a hit! At the end of the visit, it is the ascent to the top of the city. Le Belvédère is bursting with light and wine from around the world courtesy of the different wine regions. An exhibition to be consumed without moderation to delight the eyes and the taste buds! Webpage: https://www.laciteduvin.com/en
A true standard bearer throughout the world, the history of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyard dates back to the Roman Empire. It was at the beginning of the 14C that it was adorned with prestige when the Bordeaux Pope Clement V recognized the true quality of its terroirs. His successor Pope John XXII conferred on him the status of “Wine of the Pope”. It is served at the pontifical table of the palace of Avignon, and enjoys recognition that goes beyond borders. After the phylloxera crisis which ravaged the vineyard in 1866, it was under the impetus of Baron Le Roy de Boiseaumarié, owner of Château Fortia, and local winegrowers, that the process of producing high quality wines was put in place. All the effort leading in 1936 to the official creation of the first viticultural AOC in France for the production of red and white wines. Under the same impetus, the neighboring area of Tavel will also be elevated to the rank of AOC for the production of rosés only. The distinction for Lirac will come a little later in 1947, for a production in the three colors. The Grenache noir is king in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, it represents three-quarters of the plantations and has an exceptional heritage of very old vines The wine is particularly appreciated by North American palates, a continent to which two-thirds of the volumes are exported. The particular taste is mainly due to the presence of the Cévennes massif to the north of Lirac which triggers more precipitation, and to a “Rives du Rhône effect” which means that Lirac benefits from more humidity coming from the Rhône than Châteauneuf-du-Pape when the Mistral blows (Lirac being located downwind of the Rhône) Tavel is undoubtedly the Queen of rosés. Three main terroirs make it up: the historic terroir of sands located to the south-east of the village, the rolled pebbles to the north, and the terroir of “lauzes” to the west, white limestone stones giving the wines a clear mineral character. Tavel have always been vinified as short maceration red wines, the equivalent of Bordeaux clairets. It is therefore logical that when the AOCs were set up in 1936, Tavel was entrusted with the production of rosés, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape the reds and whites at the top of the estate’s range of rosés, under which logically come place the rosés of Lirac, in a gourmet style close to Tavel but less complex, and finally the Côtes-du-Rhône vinified in a fashionable Provençal style, very clear and fresh.
Webpage for Tavel : http://www.vin-tavel.com/fr/
Webpage for Lirac : https://vin-lirac.com/
Webpage for Côtes du Rhône : https://www.vins-rhone.com/en/
There you go folks, another wine episode of my belle France! The wines news from France that is, superbe, sublime, wonderful, gorgeous, enjoy without moderation but accompanying a meal, family table just perfect. We are already in Spring, see you in the vineyards of France
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
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