Again back with new work on the best of wines news of France. By the way for the non Romans LII is no 52, The wines of France are just super simply awesome and a great tradition. Often imitated, some time equaled ,but never surpass! Therefore, let me tell you some news shall we. Hope you enjoy it as I.
2023 followed in the footsteps of 2022 in terms of precocity with extremely early bud break and flowering. The Ascension weekend was marked by the start of flowering, while in less early terroirs it will start a week later. Rapid and homogeneous, flowering was complete before the end of May on the terroirs of the great Cabernet Sauvignons of the Médoc. Once again very close to the bases for 2022. At this stage the number and size of the bunches suggest a nice harvest which the coulure will moderate slightly with, for once not customary, a more significant coulure on the Cabernet Sauvignon. What followed was a tormented month of June with numerous stormy episodes and temperatures well beyond seasonal norms which immediately increased the pressure on disease in the vineyard. July will be less rainy but continually humid. The 2023 vintage was built in work with omnipresent pressure and rapid growth of the vines leaving no respite for the teams in the vineyard. Tannins are one of the components of red wines (even if they are found in very small quantities in some rosés and some whites). They bring structure to the wine and substance on the palate. A tannic wine will be a wine with a high quantity of tannins. This in no way indicates the quality of the tannins. These can be of good quality. The wine will therefore be quite full but silky on the palate. This is the case, for example, of good Bordeaux wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon. Conversely, if the tannins are not of good quality, they will cause a feeling of hardness, firmness and astringency in the mouth (this feeling of drying gums that we sometimes feel). Generally, wines from the south of France are more tannic than those from the north. Thus, wines from Languedoc, Côtes-du-Rhône or the South-West are more tannic than red wines from Burgundy, Alsace or Beaujolais.
Without much surprise, the most patriotic will assert, even OpenAI software would not have the audacity to assert that the best wine in the world could be anything other than French. It’s true that wine is often considered a subjective subject, as opinions on flavors and aromas can vary greatly from person to person. However, there is also objective knowledge about wine, such as production techniques, producing regions, grape varieties, harvest years, food pairings, etc. This knowledge can be transmitted in an accurate and informative manner. Additionally, opinions and personal preferences about wine are often influenced by cultural and personal factors, so it is important to keep in mind that perception of wine can be subjective. I’m here to provide you with factual and reliable information, but I understand that opinions on wine are often subjective Here are the 10 best wines in the world according to ChatGPT : Château Margaux 2000 Premier Grand Cru Classé, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti – Romanée-Conti Grand Cru 1999, Domaine Sassicaia – Tenuta San Guido 1985, Domaine Penfolds – Penfolds Grange 2008, Château d’Yquem 2001, Opus One 2010, Vega Sicilia Único 1994, Château Latour 2009, Harlan Estate 2012, Château Haut-Brion 2005 Premier Grand Cru Classé, and Château Haut-Brion Premier Cru Classé 2005.
Foreign grape varieties have just been included in the Official National Catalog of France, These foreign varieties, mainly from the Mediterranean region, have been selected to help French winegrowers adapt to climate change. Alvarinho B: A renowned high-quality Portuguese white grape variety. It offers a rich and intense aromatic palette, a beautiful acidity which gives freshness and a low to moderate alcohol content depending on the terroir. Verdelho B: Portuguese white grape variety from the island of Madeira or the Douro Valley. Also with a rich and intense aromatic palette, it makes it possible to produce dry to sweet wines, elegant and fragrant, with good acidity and suitable for aging. Touriga Nacional N: Portuguese black grape variety grown particularly in the Douro and used as a blend in the famous Port wines. Qualitative thanks to its power and complexity, it brings tannins and concentrated aromas of black fruits. Finally, it has good drought tolerance and is therefore suitable for global warming. Tinta Barroca N: Portuguese black grape variety from the Douro. It is appreciated in the blend of Port because it brings intense colors of a beautiful ruby red. It is characterized by its aromas of cherry, spices and flowers.Arvine B: Swiss white grape variety from Valais. Grape variety with a rich and intense aromatic palette. In addition, like Chenin, Arvine is vinified from dry to sweet to sweet, an argument which could facilitate its adoption in many French vineyards. Parellada B: Spanish white grape variety very common in Catalonia. Parellada is recognized for its liveliness, freshness and drought tolerance, making it interesting for the southern zone. Finally, it is also used in the production of sparkling wines, one more argument. Nebbiolo N: Italian black grape variety widely cultivated in Piedmont, the origin of the famous Barolo. This is an interesting variety for its aromatic palette, its level of acidity, its patinated tannins and its late maturity. Nero d’Avola N (or Calabrese): black grape variety grown in southern Italy and especially in Sicily. Nero d’Avola produces colorful wines with good structure and high alcohol and acidity levels. The aromatic palette is complex and is similar to that of Syrah with notes of red, black fruits and violet.Pinotage N: black grape variety created in South Africa by crossing the Pinot noir and Cinsaut grape varieties. Adapted to hillsides, it needs a lot of heat to mature. Pinotage makes it possible to produce colorful, powerful and full-bodied wines, very fruity with a high alcohol content and to be consumed quickly. Saperavi N: Black grape variety native to Georgia and widespread in the different republics of the Caucasus. It is not a dyeing grape, but it is sometimes considered as semi-dying because its skin is very rich in anthocyanins, it colors the juice very quickly. The wines are colorful, rich in tannins and generally have a high alcohol content and acidity. These characteristics give them a high structure and concentration making them suitable for storage for more than 30 years. Saperavi can also be used to make sweet wines or natural sweet wines.
Michel-Édouard Leclerc, president of the strategic committee of the E.Leclerc shopping centers (and tell you they are my supermarket) , The wine fairs are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, and alreadyinvitation will be there September 29 2023 ! He recounts the origins of this unmissable event that his group created in 1973. Everyone has forgotten it, but grocery stores, in the 1950s, did not necessarily have a distribution license. The wines were sold by traditional wine merchants or in restaurants. In his fight for the most accessible prices for the consumer, his father found that this also involved wine. At the time, they were supplied by merchants rather than wine growers. Thanks to the initiative of two Leclerc store owners, one in Vannes, the other in Saint-Pol-de-Léon, wine fairs were born. They distributed the equivalent of eight times the weight of the Eiffel Tower in leaflets. So ,deleted all the catalogs that were not addressed to someone. Today, drive and internet represent 12% of our total turnover. Between 3% to 4% for wine fairs. See it webpage : https://www.e.leclerc/cat/foire-aux-vins
Some favorites over the years that I recommend to all, seek them out, you won’t go wrong. Enjoy it
In the heart of a French vineyard, direction Cahors and Clos Triguedina The cellar has recently been renovated with private tasting areas in the new modern pavilion equipped with a fully equipped kitchen for seminars or lunch buffets. The “Magic of Thursday” gives access to the old vintages of Jean-Luc Baldès but the formulas are multiple, discovery of the greatest bottles of the estate, in particular the Probus vintage. A short trip to the museum of old vineyard and cooperage tools or to the property under the century-old cedars then we go for a stroll in the vineyard, on foot or by electric bike Webpage : https://www.jlbaldes.com/en
In the heart of a French vineyard, towards the right bank of Bordeaux and Château Fleur de Lisse, Fleuron des Vignobles Jade belonging to the Teycheney family, It just completed a major rehabilitation and extension project of the facilities in 2021, with a wine tourism vocation. The very modern winery is now intended to receive visitors, doubling as a shop, a wine bar, as well as numerous tasting, blending, cooking workshops… New for 2023: Château Fleur de Lisse can be discovered as a family with the new tour route “Tell me about the vine and the wine”. At Saint-Hippolyte webpage : https://www.vignoblesjade.com/
Jean-Louis Trocard Vineyards, Established for 15 generations on the right bank of the Bordeaux vineyards, the Trocard family owns several properties including Château La Croix des Moines, Château Croix de Rambeau and Château Porte Chic. The visit offer, resolutely family-friendly, is based on interactivity with children as well as adults: explanation of winemaking with chemical experiment, wine quizzes, aroma game and blind tastings for children and adults. At Les Artigues-de-Lussac webpage : https://www.trocard.com/en
Château La Fleur de Boüard, With the recent arrival of new shareholders, this 30 hectares property created in 1998 by Hubert de Boüard and his family has revitalized its wine tourism offer, via the opening of a renovated boutique which is also a table hosts, highlighting the estate’s wines and local products, an enhanced accommodation offer (soon a dozen rooms in total) and a new, particularly immersive visit to the cellars thanks to sound and light animation. At Néac webpage : https://www.lafleurdebouard.com/en/accueil/
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. See you in the vineyards of my belle France, Again, hope you enjoy the post as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 