Category Archives: France
Rosé, Domaine Houchart, Côtes de Provence AC, France, 13% abv, 2016, C$20++
It’s so warm these days, I can’t bring myself to drink anything other than gin and tonic … or perhaps a bottle of Rosé. This Rosé, made of typical Provençal grapes – Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah – is bottled at … Continue reading
Rosé, Bastide Blanche, Château de Castillon, Bandol AC, France, 2015, 13.5% abv. US$20
Rosé and summer go swell together. Consider adding this one to your long weekend activities. Rosé is the best known style of wine from Bandol – a tiny wine region on the French shores of the Mediterranean. Bandol is part … Continue reading
Viognier, Maison Denuzière, Aphrodite, Condrieu AC, France, 2014, 13% abv, US$50
There are just 500 acres of vines in the French appellation of Condrieu – it’s very petite – and the only grape allowed to grow there is a specific clone of Viognier. A different Viognier clone is used throughout the … Continue reading
Champagne, Brut, Nicolas Maillart, Premier Cru, Millésime, Champagne AC, France, 2007, 12.5% abv.
Coco Chanel probably said it best when she remarked, “I only drink champagne on two occasions. When I am in love and when I am not.” Champagne just makes everything better. Always. Some people have said to me that they … Continue reading
Le Soula, VdP des Côtes Catalanes, France, 2009, 14% abv, C$45+
Every now and then, I’m reminded how small producer, attention-to-detail, hands-on and earth-friendly farming and wine-making practices all conspire to produce some of the seriously fabulous wines of the world. From the minute this was opened, I wondered where it … Continue reading
La Grande Cuvée Rose, Domaine Lafage, Côtes du Roussillon AOP, France, 13% abv, C$35++
Made from 70% Grenache Gris, Grenache and 30% Mourvèdre grapes harvested by hand from 65 and 80 year old vines, this is a visual beauty of the palest salmon. Jean-Marc Lafage makes this at his estate near Perpignan, France. … Continue reading
Cabernet Franc, Les Muriers, Anjou Villages AC, Loïc Mahé, Loire Valley, France, 12.5% abv. 2013, US$20
These are a few of my favourite things. From a site located in the western part of Savennières and north of the Loire River, Brittany native Loïc Mahé grows bio/organic grapes on shale soils and makes unfiltered wines fermented with natural … Continue reading
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