France

Reviews April 19, 2012

Simonnet Febvre Chablis, Burgundy, France.

Grapes 100% Chardonnay   Facts “Hang-on!!! Why doesn’t that bottle of Chablis have a handle?”Yup….. Carlo Rossi really screwed this one up for the French, didn’t he!?!? Even though his big-dirty-liter-jug-with-a-handle features the Chablis name, it’s about as far removed from “true” Chablis as you can get! So do me a favor, the next time you see this Californian imposter, you must only refer to it as CHAB-LIZ. Chablis is always white and always made…

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Facts March 29, 2012

A Toast to Champagne Infographic

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: you (we) don’t drink enough Champagne! Understanding sparkling wine can be a slight nightmare though, as there’s about 5 different to give a wine its bubbles, not to even mention all the history details! Luckily the nice people at wine.com have put together this great little Champagne infographic for people looking to learn a little more about true Champagne. If after studying this whole thing from…

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Facts March 23, 2012

What does “garrigue” mean?

The mere mention of the word “garrigue” brings back vivid memories of my childhood summers spent in the south of France. I’m just kidding. That never happened… The term “garrigue” actually refers to the low-lying vegetation on the hills that often surround vineyards on the Mediterranean coast. This wild brush is made up of herbs such as rosemary, thyme, sage, mint and lavender, as well as juniper. Therefore; when describing a wine as having an…

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Reviews March 15, 2012

Louis Latour Pouilly-Fuisse, Burgundy, France, 2010.

Grape 100% Chardonnay Facts It wasn’t that long ago that Pouilly-Fuisse [poo-yee fwee-SAY] had developed a fairly bad reputation among wine drinkers. Overuse of fertilizers and herbicides in the vineyards resulted in huge crops. These grapes were in turn picked from the vine too early, by the vineyards who were scared about achieving the perfect ripeness levels. The result wasn’t good! Thin, watery, overly acidic wines that due to the Pouilly-Fuissé, name weren’t cheap either!…

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Reviews February 15, 2012

Christian Salmon Sancerre Rose, Loire Valley, France.

Grape 100% Pinot Noir   Facts This would happen to actually be only the 3rd Rose Sancerre I’ve ever tasted. Rose Sancerre isn’t made in huge quantities, but when you do find it, it’s always made from Pinot Noir. Personally I’ve always found Sancerre to produce some of the most reliable wines coming out of France. At least one wine from the region should be a staple on every wine list. Domaine Christian Salmon have…

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Reviews February 6, 2012

Bollinger La Grande Annee 1999, Champagne, France.

  Grape 63% Pinot Noir, 37% Chardonnay   Facts I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: you (we) don’t drink Champagne often enough! With that being stated from the get-go, I should probably point-out that what we’re dealing with right here isn’t exactly a once-a-week kind of bottle! I’ve been saving this bottle of Bollinger La Grande Annee for a special occasion, and that occasion was last Friday. So what was the occasion?…

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News January 31, 2012

Chapoutier Calls Natural Winemakers “Hippies from Another World”.

Renowned Rhone producer Michel Chapoutier has added his own comments to the natural wine debate by denouncing natural winemakers as out-of-touch hippies making defective wines. Interviewed in the current issue of Decanter, Chapoutier tells John Livingstone-Learmonth the practice of natural winemaking – that is, using no sulphur dioxide to stabilize the wines – is a con. ‘It is a connerie. It is rubbish. It’s like making vinegar, bad vinegar. How can anyone allow toxic yeasts…

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Pairings, Recipes January 23, 2012

Moroccan Spiced Lamb Chops Paired with La Griveliere Cotes du Rhone 2010.

Ever since receiving a set of insanely expensive Laguiole steak knives for Christmas, I’ve been dying to test them out. Truth-be-told, when I unwrapped the small rectangler box on Dec 25th, my heart dropped into my shoes when I saw the Laguiole logo on the wooden case. For one second I thought the Mrs. had dropped $100+ on a Laguiole wine opener. I don’t by any means want to sound ungrateful, it’s not that I…

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News January 16, 2012

Breathalyzer Kits to Become Compulsory in all Vehicles in France.

Every car in France will have to be equipped with a breathalyzer from the spring of 2012. The announcement was made by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The new plan will force every driver to have a breathalyzer kit in their cars so they can check their alcohol level before driving. A kit costs just €1.50 to €2 ($2 to $2.70). Anyone caught without a kit will face a €17 ($23) fine.

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News December 18, 2011

This Week in Wine–12/18/11

  French Lessons: Why Letting Kids Drink At Home Isn’t ‘Tres Bien’ Many European parents, and some American ones, too, have long figured if they let their kids drink alcohol at home, they’d be less likely to go hog wild with their friends. But recent studies of teen drinking behavior don’t bear that out. That’s unwelcome news in places like France, where these scientific developments are running head long into a culture that loves its…

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