Tag Archives: France

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2010 Laurent-Perrier Champagne, Maison Fondee 1812

Some tastings on Notes emphasize the grapes; others focus on the experience. Others, like this 2010 Laurent-Perrier Champagne Maison Fondee 1812, are an amazing combination between the two. This magnum we broke out tonight to help celebrate our wedding anniversary, and it was a great part of the evening.

2010 Laurent-Perrier Champagne Maison Fondee 1812, France.

2010 Laurent-Perrier Champagne Maison Fondee 1812, France.

Special thanks to the GDog for this gift. I am sure it was not inexpensive, both on the size of the bottle and the merits of the grapes themselves.  We made our way through the magnum, one flute at a time, as we savored slices of cucumber–fresh from our own backyard, lightly seasoned with both mayonnaise and salt–and sushi (our favorite rolls) from a local takeout joint. I’m going to refrain from tasting notes on this occasion because they’d only diminish how much I enjoyed the entire evening. Good food, good dockside ambiance, better wine, and best company.

The memories will keep.

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2012 Lafage Cote Est Catalan

Originating from the Roussillon region of southwestern France (seemingly where the Pyrenees Mountains meet the Mediterranean) is the 2012 Cote Est Catalan from winemaker Jean-Marc Lafage. It packs quite a punch for a white, not in the alcoholic sense, but in the flavor. The 2012 Cote Est Catalan is a blend of 60% Granache, 30% Chardonnay, and 10% Marsanne, and we had it with grilled roasted garlic and butter tilapia fillets, brown rice (chives as an accent from our own garden), and steamed veggies on this evening.

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It’s crisp, it’s fruity (notes of citrus and flower to be sure), and not too much in the way of sweetness. Affordable, too. A sliver of some earthy mineral? Perhaps it satisfies some calm midpoint between a Pinot Grigio and a Chardonnay? I read one review that shared these accolades: “the lovely aromatics are followed by a crisp, elegant, slightly more textured, medium-bodied white with wonderful purity, freshness, and length. It is long and flavorful on the finish.”
I agree, and seeing how many nuances he could pick out reminds me–you too, readers–of how neophyte your reviewer is here in Notes. I will stay humble but diligent in the desire to learn and share more.

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2008 Chateau Franc-Cardinal Cotes de Bordeaux

When you receive swanky cool Bordeaux glassware for your birthday, you have to put your hands on a Bordeaux in swift order.  For us, it was the 2008 Chateau Franc-Cardinal Cotes de Bordeaux.  The bottle made its first appearance on Friday evening, welcoming this gent home from a long week of business travel (is there another kind?).  While the Bordeaux breathed and wafted its purple-fruited cheeriness into our kitchen, another project was underway–see the peanut butter cookie / peanut butter cup minis in the accompanying photo?

2008 Chateau Franc-Cardinal Cotes de Bordeaux

2008 Chateau Franc-Cardinal Cotes de Bordeaux, France.

I’m sorry to say this red blend did not get its due on Friday, as this traveler was road weary and candidly only ate a quick tuna sandwich.  Suffice it to say, no sommelier has ever recommended the 2008 Chateau with tuna on white…but that’s what made tonight’s pairing all the better.  This evening, we ate this rich Bordeaux with homemade cheese burgers, seasoned fries, and all the fixings.  The burgers were massive, juicy, and cooked to perfection–no small feat given all the rain that fell here yesterday and again today.  They dripped goodness and oozed with flavor–the grilled meat a perfect complement to the wine.

The 2008 Chateau Franc-Cardinal Cotes de Bordeaux is an interesting red blend–72% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Malbec.  Every producer of a big red has his or her own take on ratios and grapes to be sure, and this one does a lot right.  Like the Bordeaux glasses, this bottle was a birthday gift and the perfect close to this day.  Upon tasting you definitely notice its tannins (even at day two) and tangy underpinnings.  I am sure blackberry figures into your tasting of the 2008 much as it did mine; I would also suggest the 2008 Chateau Franc-Cardinal Cotes de Bordeaux binds some tobacco of sorts, some faint earthiness into its profile.

I’m still mulling over its aftertaste and will curious as to your thoughts too.  Offer ’em here if you feel so inclined…and thanks for reading.

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2011 Chateau Close la Chapelle, Cotes de Bordeaux Cadillac Red Blend

“Cadillac Bordeaux” gives one a definite impression even before drinking, and these grapes do the moniker justice. We opened this bottle last evening with dinner (a delicious, cheesy enchilada with salty black beans riding shotgun), and polished it off tonight with our hors d’oeuvres–the perfect follow-up to a warm, Carolina afternoon filled with hiking and outdoor fun.

2011 Chateau Close la Chapelle, Cotes de Bordeaux Cadillac Red Blend, Bordeaux, France.

2011 Chateau Close la Chapelle, Cotes de Bordeaux Cadillac Red Blend, Bordeaux, France.

Even without a long breathing period this Cotes de Bordeaux Cadillac Red Blend was easy on the palate, a dark and rich mix of berries…with no harshness that you’d find in a Syrah or similar.  It has hints in it…hints that I can’t quite place but evidence of a richer heritage than my paltry experience can identify.  Suffice it to say, several refills later found me happy and healthy and wise.  Who hasn’t been to this place?

Here’s how the experts called it: “This soft, plush cuvee offers notes of black cherry, peat moss, blackberry, cassis, toast, vanilla, cedar, and coconut.”

Overstated, to be sure, but not too far off the mark.  Those same experts said to drink the 2011 Chateau Close la Chapelle, Cotes de Bordeaux Cadillac Red Blend with grilled pork and rosemary.  Sounds smart, but my wife’s experiment with the enchilada was solid too.  The Cadillac Bordeaux is a rich tapestry, and you’ve got to give this one a try.  It’s a mix of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc that is aged in stainless steel and French Oak barrels for about a year.  We received the bottle as part of a mail order so can’t quite ante up again ourselves–but we would if we could.

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The Ones That Got Away

We enjoyed a number of fine adult beverages through the 2013 holidays and into March of 2014.  In light of an aggressive travel schedule, however, I’ve neglected to review several great reds and whites that graced our table in this time frame.  Tasting notes will have to wait another sampling but thought you’d enjoy a quick depiction of our “travels” through wine country domestically and abroad.

2011 Cairanne La Cigalette, Cote due Rhone Villages, France.
2011 Buena Vista Natalia’s Selection Chardonnay, Sonoma County, California, USA.
2011 Tiamo Chianti, Italy.
2011 Casillero del Diablo Red Blend, Chile.
2007 Bagrationi Champagne, France.
2011 Clos du Bois, Pinot Grigio, California, USA.
2012 Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio, Italy.
2011 Bogle Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, California, USA.
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Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut Yellow Label

We’re a family that celebrates milestones, and we do it best when we have a great bottle of something special to share together.  This bottle of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut Yellow Label, a gift from my best friend, was just such a bottle–sent to congratulate us for our relocation to North Carolina.

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut Yellow Label, Champagne, France.

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut Yellow Label, Champagne, France.

We’ve been here nearly two months now, but with the Veuve on hand decided we would celebrate anew on this Sunday night.  Check out the delicious vittles that graced our table: Mustard-encrusted chicken breasts, fresh-cut green beans, and portabella mushrooms.  The Veuve, always a favorite of my wife, really accented the succulent food.  Its bubbles and inherent apple goodness complemented the flavors Becca wrangled from this light, healthy fare.

These guys have been producing champagne since 1772, so you know they’re doing more than one or two things right.  If you’ve had for yourself, you’re nodding in agreement.  If you haven’t had Veuve Cliquot yet, what are you waiting for?

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2010 Chateau Hanteillan, Haut Medoc

A celebratory Saturday night started–and finished–courtesy of the 2010 Chateau Hanteillan Bordeaux from the Haut Medoc region.  This is the second of four in our collection, and like our first tasting of this red, it too accompanied a great pair of steaks and blue cheese salads, though on this occasion we worked a perfectly baked potato into the mix as well.

2010 Chateau Hanteillan Bordeaux, Haut Medoc, France.

2010 Chateau Hanteillan Bordeaux, Haut Medoc, France.

Somehow I failed to recall the initial experience we had with the Hanteillan, and again my first sip showed the heavy tannin finish that I hadn’t cared for previously.  Rather than play a bad hand, this time I opted to decant the entire bottle–to a much better outcome.  A re-deal, if you will.  Allowing the 2010 to breathe really helped and would be my clear recommendation for anyone sampling this vintage.

Getting some air into this Bordeaux allowed its fruity background to play a bigger role and really diminished the tannin’s acidity.  I think the balance was restored through the decanter, and I know that’s how we’ll proceed with the remaining inventory we have in our possession.

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2010 Chateau Hanteillan, Haut Medoc

2010 Chateau Hanteillan, Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, France.

2010 Chateau Hanteillan, Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, France.

Scouting possible reds for the Thanksgiving holiday, we opened this Bordeaux to accompany a lovely dinner of steaks and blue cheese salad–a classic pairing in our home as frequent site visitors can undoubtedly attest.  We ordered four of these red blends, and the first leaves an interesting impression.

This 2010 probably could have been shelved for a longer period, and I think we erred in not properly aerating after opening.  It’s got the usual Bordeaux coloring, a shimmering pool of goodness, and nose too.  In my excitement to sample a new vino, however, I failed to detect the underpinnings that might have better informed me on its need to breathe.  Thus, this first exposure to the 2010 Chateau Hanteillan leaves me with notes that include “long finish” and “heavy tannin feel”.

I’m not sure we have in this bottle the right red for our dinner later this week, but we do have a few more so perhaps it’ll make the cut after all.  To be continued…

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Domaine Virginie Thunevin AOC Bordeaux, 2009

Sorry to say this is our last (at least currently) bottle of the Domaine Virginie Thunevin AOC Bordeaux, 2009.  On a beautiful fall Friday, this Bordeaux was a perfect option for one of our favorite meals–accompanying well-seasoned steaks, tender red baby potatoes, and blue cheese salads with the crumble, freshly ground pepper, and blue cheese dressing.

Domaine Virginie Thunevin AOC Bordeaux, 2009, France.

Domaine Virginie Thunevin AOC Bordeaux, 2009, France.

Created by winemaker Jean-Luc Thunevin and named for his daughter, this Bordeaux combines Merlot (70%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%), and Cabernet Franc (10%).  It’s excellent when working alongside a medium rare, salted steak–and my lovely and talented chef (photographer too!) knows how to tease all the flavors out of a great cut.

From a tasting standpoint, the 2009 Domaine Virginie Thunevin AOC Bordeaux is fruity and aromatic.  The berries waft up, juicy and full on the nose, and–despite a hint of tannin in your first smell–it has a surprisingly smooth and easy finish.  My wife thought much the same in her sampling.  It is very drinkable to say the least.

I think we’ve now had this Bordeaux with steaks on a few occasions, pizza on another, and I forget the other time.  Thinking back (enviously, I must say) now, the 2009 Virginie seems to be very functional–you can drink it upscale with steaks or downscale with a casual pie and it complements both effectively.  Wish we had another and you should too.