Tasting this remarkable, balanced and vibrant cabernet franc from the Basque country, in Southwestern France, I was impressed by how discreetly it is produced by the owner of this small, 4.5-hectare (10-acre) biodynamic domaine, none other than Jean-Claude Berrouet, winemaker at Château Pétrus from 1964 to 2007. Born in Basque
If you've never put your nose inside a few well-wrought barrels, it may be hard to understand just how excited winemakers can become about oak - and also, just how varied the contribution of oak to the profile of a wine can be. The range of smells, the different characters
Quite an unusual wine from this Okanagan Valley winery: a field blend of grenache, viognier and marsanne, pressed together and fermented together in oak barrels, thus creating an unusual, largely blanc de noirs, white wine. Coming from a cool vintage, it has an edgy, vibrant touch, combining the aromatics of
Light, translucent ruby in color. Strawberries dominate on the nose. Strawberries and rhubarb are on the palate, tart, clean, and brightly acidic. Fennel pops on the mid-palate. Tannins are light and very fine. This is a bright food wine, one to provide counter-balance to rich cheeses and light meats. Drink
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An aroma reminiscent of the cherry juice that leaks out of a pie while baking, and caramelizes on the edge of the pan. A touch of florals, too. In the mouth the flavors become more intense, appearing sweeter on the end palate. But the wine finishes fairly dry with integrated tannins and acidity. There's
Lots of spice in this red wine experience: leafy, fruity, aromas, with blackberry with pepper predominating into the front- and mid-palate. A medium-weight wine. Same peppery, leafy blackberry elements on end-palate and even in the finish. Moderate tannins, more fruity than woody. Good with white bean and pork loin stew.
As Napoleon is reputed to have said, “Champagne: in roaring economies you deserve it, in recession you need it.” OK, the energetic emperor did not actually say that. (The proper quote, according to legend anyway, is, “Champagne: in victory you deserve it, in defeat you need it.”) But it is