Tag Archives: france

Domaine de Ferrand, Philippe Bravay Vignobles, Châteauneuf du Pape, Orange, France, 2012, 15% abv, bottle #03458, US$54

Here’s a GSM from 5 ha of vines located in the region of La Gardiole and Cabrières near Orange, in the northern part of Châteauneuf du Pape.  The recipe on this wine is 95% Grenache with 2% Syrah, 2% Mourvèdre and a … Continue reading

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Chardonnay, Louis Jadot, Pouilly-Fuissé AOC, Mâconnais, France, 13% abv.

Pouilly-Fuissé is located in Burgundy’s Mâconnais subregion and Chardonnay is its only grape.  Its wines are usually good deals and cheaper than those from the north of Burgundy.  There, a good tip for when all those wines are swimming in front … Continue reading

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Le Clos des Grillons, Les Terres Blanches, Côtes du Rhône AC, France, 2012, 14.5% abv.

This wine is produced by vigneron Nicholas Renaud who came to winemaking from teaching in 2008.  He works from 18 ha of 70-80 year old vines, 80% of which he rents. The soil of the Les Terres Blanches vineyard is … Continue reading

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Miraval, Rosé, Jolie-Pitt & Perrin, Provence AC, France, 2014, 13% abv. 19.50 GBP / C$29 ++

There’s not much about this famous Brangelina – Perrin brothers product you can’t find on the internet.  A quick search brings up a mere 27,900 links on Google.  It was named on Wine Spectator’s 100 top wines of 2013 as the … Continue reading

Posted in Cinsault, France, Grenache / Garnacha, OTHER, Rolle, ROSE, Shiraz / Syrah | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pinot Noir, Cumières Rouge, Champagne Geoffroy, Coteaux Champenois AC, Champagne, France, 12.5% abv.

This is actually THE bottle that is the pictured headliner on this very site.  I snapped that picture in June 2014 when visiting Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy, his lovely wife and tribe of spirited daughters in Aÿ. The cork used is a traditional … Continue reading

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Domaine Huet, Clos du Bourg, Sec, Vouvray AC, Loire, France, 2011, 13.5% abv.

These are a few of my favourite things – the Loire Valley, Domaine Huet and Chenin Blanc.  We visited this classic biodynamic benchmark winery in June 2014 but opened this bottle in July 2015.  A second bottle was opened in October 2015 (notes … Continue reading

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XO Armagnac, J. Nismes-Delclou, Berry Brothers & Rudd, NV, France, 40% abv, 69 GBP

Any way you slice it, this BBR marque XO Armagnac is delicious and interesting stuff. Florence Castarède is a sixth generation descendant of the Nismes-Delclou family and is currently running the stills at this Armagnac house. To underscore its longevity, the Nismes-Delclou … Continue reading

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Génération Dix-Neuf, Sauvignon Blanc, Alphonse Mellot, Sancerre AC, Loire Valley, France, 2012, 13% abv.

We visited this tasting room in the heart of Sancerre in June, 2014.  Although I’d booked a personal appointment well in advance, no tour was offered and we simply did the regular tasting with their store employee – who was … Continue reading

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Notre Histoire, Bourgueil AC, Domaine de L’Oubliée, Loire, France, 13% abv, 2011

This is a wine made by Xavier Courrant who used to work in Paris as a wine retailer.  In 2009 he purchased 6 ha of vines (five Cabernet Franc and one Chenin Blanc) in Bourgueil near Saint-Patrice and went to … Continue reading

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Domaine Jules Desjourneys, Moulin-à-Vent, Cru Beaujolais, France, 2009, 13.5% abv.

Moulin-à-Vent is one of the most special of the Beaujolais crus and the wine can most closely resemble fine Burgundy when aged.  In fact, this bottle doesn’t even mention Beaujolais on the label but instead, refers to red ‘Burgundy’. Make … Continue reading

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