Bordeaux for All!

Image is courtesy of wine-searcher.com and is a past vintage photo.


  On many occasions, when selling wine, people will often tell me they dislike French wines.  Now there are numerous reasons why people shy away from trying French wines, but mostly, I believe the labels are hard to read and people usually don't understand what they are looking for.  A few pointers--French wines are separated by region so if you know what grapes grow in which region, it will make your life much more simple.  For starters, if it's a Burgandy, it's either a Pinot Noir or a Chardonnay, if it's a Bordeaux, it's a blend of five grapes including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec and if it's from the Southern Rhone region it can be a wide variety of grapes including Mouvedre, Grenache, Syrah and many more.  Today I am trying a Bordeaux and true to it's blend, it is a lovely wine.

  2006--Chateau Tour D'Auron Bordeaux is a simple, yet true gem.  Loads of ripe cranberries, toasted oak and vanilla make it worth your while to continue smelling.  Herbaceous and earthy notes pair nicely with dense cherries and dark chocolate nibs.  The mouthfeel is creamy with super soft tannins and balanced oak.  When you reach the finish, there is subtle pepper and notes that are reminiscent of a well ages cigar.  This wine is great now, but decant and enjoy for several days as it continues to open up with time.

  This wine would pair nicely with anything from a croque monsieur to your favorite duck confit dish.  Please feel free to stop by Greenlake Wines and try this Bordeaux on the glass pour menu and visit myself and the rest of our lovely staff!


Ciao!
Erin



(I try to list all the images I source and if possible, the photographers who take these lovely photos.  If I have a photo of yours, please let me know and I will be happy to remove it from the blog.  Thank you).

Pepper, Tobacco and Leather

Image is courtesy of rezin.com
 
  Often enough, I find myself looking for a new wine to blog about, but nothing jumps out at me as a memorable wine.  Then before I know it, it's right in front of me.  This wine I'm about to review hails from the Gaillac Appellation in France where they are known for a handful of varietals including Syrah.  What makes Syrahs from France so special is that they taste nothing like the often jammy, earthy, yet fruit driven ones we find here in the states.

  So here it is--2010 Causse Marines "Peyrouzelles."  Since they characterize their wines by region, Gaillac is the appellation, Causse Marines is the producer and Peyrouzelles is the vineyard.  It all sounds very confusing, but trust me, it's superb!  Pepper, tobacco and leather are prevalent on the nose making for a great conversation wine.  On the palate, bright cherries and toasted oak balance well with great acidity, solid tannins and more of that pepper, tobacco and leather.  Cigars are what come to mind by the time you reach the silky smooth finish which quite simply gives off even more pepper, tobacco and leather.  Now I know that this wine may seem overwhelmingly earthy and spicy, but I truly believe you will enjoy this one of a kind wine.  Also, give it time and in a year or two this wine will have even more layers and complexity.

  As for food, I would pair this wine with grilled lamb, roasted smashed potatoes and arugula salad.  Come try this wine here at Greenlake Wines and visit myself and the rest of our lovely staff before it's gone!

Ciao!
Erin

(I try to list all the images I use and if possible, the photographers who take these lovely photos.  If I have a photo of yours, please let me know and I will be happy to remove it from the blog.  Thank you).