Tag Archives: france

Domaine Huet, Clos du Bourg, Moelleux, Première Trie, Vouvray AC, Loire, France, 2002, 12.5% abv, US$ 45 (half bottle)

Chenin Blanc is one of the most versatile grapes.  This wine is a botrytised, sweet version from Domaine Huet located in Vouvray, Loire Valley, France. If you actually knew what these grapes look like when picked, you may not want to … Continue reading

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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

Posted in Bourboulenc, France, Grenache / Garnacha, Mouvedre, Monastrell, RED, Shiraz / Syrah | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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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