Rhône Valley 2.0 - Wine Tasting

Have you ever wondered what all the fuss is about regarding so-called high-class French wines that are typically beyond your budget? Are you a wine lover, but hesitant to pay the extra bucks for that wine you're always reading or hearing about because you don't know whether it's worth the price? Well, here's your chance to do some more exploring with expert guidance! We make a return visit to one of the most beloved wine regions of France, but this time we will be taking it to the next level, sampling wines a few steps above the everyday variety to experience some of the more renowned and prestigious cuvées from appellations that are prized for their high quality, depth and complexity. Delving deeper into the history, culture and characteristics of these wines and regions, we feature a more selective choice of wines to be enjoyed and savored at greater length. Wines include selections from appellations such as Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Côte-Rôtie, CrozesHermitage, Cornas, St Joseph; Costières de Nîmes.

Whites

Nostre Pais, Michel Gassier 2012  (about $15)

Varietals: 55% Grenache blanc; 38% Roussanne; 6% Viognier; 3% Bourboulenc

Classification: Appellation Costières de Nîmes Contrôlée

Production/Tasting Notes: Partially barrel-fermented on lees for 6 months; pure fresh peach aromas; golden fruits; crisp acidity; toast; lovely floral nuances; medium bodied, balanced; 92 points Wine Advocate

Food pairings: shell fish; halibut, shrimp, rockfish; summer salads; also as an aperitif

13.5% Alcohol

Belleruche Côtes-du-Rhône 2013 (about $15)

Varietals: Grenache blanc; Clairette; Bourboulenc

Classification: Appellation Côtes-du-Rhône Contrôlée

Production/Tasting Notes: Vat aged with no malolactic fermentation; Aromatic notes of green apple, hawthorn, and white blossoms, citrus aromas and exotic fruits; long finish.

Food pairings: grilled fish; cooked pork meats; soft goat's cheese; 

13% Alcohol

 Petite Ruche, M. Chapoutier 2011 (price point: $25)

Varietals: 100% Marsanne

Classification: Appellation Crozes Hermitage Contrôlée

Production/Tasting Notes: very aromatic, (floral, candied fruites); green apple, very floral, exotic fruits, citrus aromas; notes of almond, pear, peach. 

Food pairings: Grilled fish (haddock) or seafood; salads; white meat; Asian dishes; tagine, couscous.

13. % Alcohol

  Château de Nages, Vieilles Vignes, Michel Gassier 2013 (price point: $15)

Varietals: : 44% Roussanne, 25% Grenache Blanc, 22% Clairette & 9% Bourboulenc

Classification: Appellation Costières de Nîmes Contrôlée

Production/Tasting Notes:  Certified organic farming; lees aging; notes of peach, pear, white flowers and honey with acacia flowers, rose petals and ripe fruits (peach, pear, pineapple); full-bodied with an unctuous texture and a lush mineral finish.  90 points Wine Spectator

Food pairings: seafood – calamari, monkfish, turbot (grilled or poached); fresh goat cheese; asparagus; avocado

13.5% Alcohol

Cave de Tain Crozes Hermitage 2012 (price point: $20)

Varietals: 100% Marsanne

Classification: Appellation Crozes Hermitage Contrôlée

Production/Tasting Notes: Lively, elegant; delicate aromas of flowers, white peach, citrus notes; nicely balanced by ripe pear, apple; hint of orange

Food pairings: Grilled fish (with slightly creamy sauced) or seafood; salads; white meat; as an aperitif

13.5 % Alcohol

Reds

Francois de Tournon, Saint-Joseph, Delas 2009 (price point: $34)

Varietals: 100% Syrah

Classification/Region: Appellation Saint-Joseph Contrôlée

Production/Tasting Notes: Notes of graphite, smoke, blackberry, smoke, cassis, tar, truffle; layers of fruit; unctuous texture; tremendous purity, depth. 94 points Wine Advocate

Food pairings: roasted red meat, lamb; duck ragout; cheddar; Gouda, Manchego, Cantal,

13.5 % Alcohol

Duclaux Côte-Rôtie « La Germine » 2011 (price point: $50)

Varietal: 95 % Syrah, 5% Viognier

Region: Appellation Côte-Rôtie Contrôlée

Production/Tasting Notes: Average vine age: 30 years; 20 months aging in oak barrels (20% new oak);perfumy, almost Pinot Noir-like qualities of rose petal, raspberry, toasted spice, sandalwood; cherry paste, black currant fruit flavores; soft, supple and already approachable, with building richness and ultra-fine tannin, it has surprising depth and richness and continued to improve in the glass. 91 point Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator

Food pairings: beef, venison, game, bone marrow on taste; English cheese - best farm cheddar; hard goat's milk and ewes milk cheese

Alcohol 13 %

J.V. Fleury Côte-Rôtie 2009 (price point: $55)

Varietal: 95 % Syrah, 5% Viognier

Region: Appellation Côte-Rôtie Contrôlée

Production/Tasting Notes: 100% malolactic fermentation; aged on lees; aged 4 years in barrels and wood vat “foudres”; copious notes of sweet, black olives, black cherry, new saddle leather, herbaceous, spice box; pepper, tobacco, medium-full bodied. 90 points Wine Advocate

Food pairings: beef, venison, game, bone marrow on toast; English cheese – best farm cheddar; hard goat's milk and ewes milk cheese

Alcohol 13.5 %

Alcohol 13.5 %

Champelrose Cornas, Domaine Courbis 2009

Varietals: 100% Syrah

Classification/Region: Appellation Cornas Contrôlée

Production/Tasting Notes:  aged entirely in casks that are a mix of 25% new; 20% one year; and 55% 2-3 years of age; barrel-aged for 12 months, after which the wine is assembled in tank and aged for four more months before bottling; extraordinary minerality, oaky; powerful, rich, intense; spicy, herbal; earthy, peppery, smoky; bright acidity; 91 points Wine Advocate

 Food pairings: roast game, lamb; duck ragout; cheddar; Gouda, Manchego, Cantal,

13.5% Alcohol 

E. Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2007  (price point: $43)

Varietal: 80% Grenache; 10% Syrah; 5% Mourvèdre; 5% others

Region: Appellation Châteauneuf-du-Pape Contrôlée

Production/Tasting Notes: Average age of vines 40 years; aged 2 years in oak foudres. Nose: spices, mature red fruits; Kirsch, blackberrry; raspberry, mature plum; camphor, licorice; round tannins; powerful, complex; unctuous; full bodied. 93 points Wine Advocate

Food pairings: beef, venison, game, bone marrow on toast; English cheese – best farm cheddar; hard goat's milk and ewes milk cheese

Alcohol 14.5 %

Télégramme Châteauneuf du Pape 2011 (price point: $50)

Varietal: 80% Grenache; 10% Syrah; 6% Mourvèdre; 4% Cinsault

Classification: Appellation Châteauneuf du Pape Contrôlée

Production/Tasting Notes: Second label of Brunier's CNP (Télégraphe is their flagship cuvée); average vine age – 30 years; 10 months vat aging followed by 6 months barrel aging; fresh fruit, minerally; supple, round; best enjoyed in its early years. Kermit Lynch import.

Food pairing: game; wild boar; venison; hare; truffles; ratatouille; stuffed roasted eggplant

14.5 % Alcohol

Chante Cigale "Vielles Vignes" Chateauneuf du Pape 2009 (price point: $50)

Varietal: GRENACHE 70 % SYRAH 20 % MOURVÈDRE 10 %

Classification: Appellation Châteauneuf du Pape Contrôlée

Production/Tasting Notes: Vine age: over 80 years; 16-22 months aging – 70% stainless steel, 30% in new oak barrels; concentrated nose of black fruit; jammy with pepper and licorice; smooth, round tannins, full-bodies; lingering finish

Food pairing: game; wild boar; venison; hare; truffles; ratatouille; stuffed roasted eggplant

14.5 % Alcohol