You would be hard pressed to think about France and not think about wine. We decided to come up with a starter pack of French wines. In here you’ll find classic representations of wines from specific regions in France and also some that are outside of the ordinary.
La Croix des Champs 2021 Sauvignon Blanc- Loire Valley, France $23.95 Sauvignon Blanc from France can vary from austere to fresh and fruity. This wine is definitely the latter. If you love New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc or our Holy Snail Sauvignon Blanc, you’ll want to try this wine! Notes of grapefruit, lime peel and a flinty mineral quality. Enjoy this when you are longing for summer.
Domaine de Thulon Blanc 2020 Chardonnay- Beaujolais, France $27.95 Burgundy is the place for Chardonnay but sometimes Chardonnay from Beaujolais can be overlooked, we’re here to put a stop to that. Another delicious wine from Jeff Carrel, this Chardonnay is more round than what you might typically expect from Burgundy. In the warmer Beaujolais climate, expect a full bodied wine with notes of lemon curd, oatmeal cookies and apple pie, all balanced out with a lingering fresh acidity. Brother and sister duo Laurent and Carine Jambon are running their parents’ winery. Their relationship with Jeff Carrel, brought these lovely wines into our shop. Enjoy with roasted cauliflower steaks topped with parmesan.
Domaine Bunan 2021 Belouve Rose- Provence, France $32.95 Provence is the most well known area for rose in France, so much so that when people refer to enjoying French rose, this is what they are talking about. This salmon hued rosé is an interesting blend of Cinsault, Cabernet Franc and a tiny bit of Ugni Blanc. The Ugni Blanc offers this wine bright citrus-y notes. This wine has a slight creamy quality similar to strawberries and cream- but it’s not sweet! Enjoy this fruity wine with a salmon Buddha bowls.
Domaine Girard 2021 Pinot Noir- Pays d’Oc, France- $26.95 While most people think of Burgundy when they think of French Pinot Noir, we understand that a $40+ bottle of wine is not in everyone’s budget. This Pinot Noir from the South of France shows surprising complexity and a delicate touch of oak. The higher altitude vines used to make this wine allow it to stay lighter and fresher. This bright and friendly example of the Pinot is a very happy match with roasted pork or chicken.
Château L’Ermite D’Auzan 2020 Rouge- Costières de Nimes, France $22.85 Château L’Ermite has been operated by the Castillon family for four generations! The vineyards face the Mediterranean Sea and bask in the sunshine while enjoying cooling sea breezes. This is a full body blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre. It shows hints of wild herbs on the nose with ripe red fruit and pepper on the palate. Underpinned with fine chalky tannins, this wine pairs well with grilled meats with herbaceous components like lamb with rosemary.
Château Belle Coline 2016- Bordeaux, France $32.95 From the Right Bank of Bordeaux, this Merlot dominated wine is full bodied and structured. Unfortunately in the early 2000’s Merlot was besmirched in the movie Sideways, causing Merlot to be misunderstood as a weaker grape. However in the clay soils of Bordeaux, Merlot gets to show its fullest most powerful self. This entry level Bordeaux is an excellent example of what Merlot can be. Notes of plum compote, blackberries, raspberries and tea leaves. Great gift for someone building their wine cellar.
