Chew On This / August 2009
Wines in Review
Picnic & BBQ Choices
by Jeff Weissler
Each issue of Chew On This will review five ConsciousWine selections. We are currently not a retailer, and therefore do not sell wine. In this column we review and provide insight into wines that meet the ConsciousWine Principles.
To find these wines in your market, we suggest the following:
- Ask a retail shop to find the wine for you. You’ll want to give them the entire name.
- Use a web-site like Snooth or Wine Searcher.
- Use a search-engine to find the wines' importer or distributor in your area, and contact them directly.
Availability and price will depend on where you live and buy your wine. Many of these selections are low-production wines, so they may be available just a few months a year. If you miss the present vintage, get on the list for next year!
In this issue of Chew On This we’re reviewing four French wines and a California zin. Why zin? It’s BBQ season. And why France? Well, it’s France and it’s got a lot of ConsciousWine!
Check out our scoring system to understand the scores we give to each wine. It’s very likely not what you’re thinking.
| Notes | Price |
Score |
|---|---|---|
| Domaine de la Petite Marie Bourgueil ‘Cuvee les Galluches’ ‘06 | $18.50 |
8 |
| tags: red wine, france, loire valley | ||
The appellation of Bourgueil (boar-goy) is all about Cabernet Franc. The nose offers a sense of light, inviting springtime. Once tasted the flavor & experience builds and lingers long. This is a very good example of what I believe is a wine made from living vineyards–soil with a strong immune system. What shows that, is how the flavors burst in the mouth, followed by how the wine lingers. Distinctive (very distinctive), which supports the idea of a unique place offering unique flavors (the 3rd Principle of ConsciousWine). Love the ‘ugly duckling’ label which potentially translates to the producers’ passion being about the vineyards and the wine, and not so much the marketing. |
||
| Domaine Charvin Cotes du Rhone ’06 | $25.00 |
7.4 |
| tags: red wine, france, rhone valley | ||
| Sixth generation of winemaking on the same property, pricey for a Cotes du Rhone, but more like a baby Chateauneuf du Pape (C du P). Actually Charvin’s main wine is its C du P. 82% Grenache with the balance in Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan and Bourboulenc (there will be a quiz!). From a great vintage, not overly extracted yet beautifully concentrated, and solid tannins make this an awesome choice as a carinvore’s picnic wine. A stand out feature is the length of it’s lingering. Are we seeing a pattern in the realm of ConsciousWine?? New mantra possibility: Living wine lingers! | ||
| Domaine de Bagnol Cassis ’07 | $30.00 |
6.8 |
| tags: white wine, france, provence | ||
| From a jewel of the French Riviera, the village of Cassis is a little cove on the sea that you descend to from winding roads thru rocky cliffs. A unique spot making unique wine. The wine’s aroma extends to meet you. A personality that’s fresh, textured, inviting, unique (but no so distinctive that it takes away from its’ dragging you in). Almost a salty quality (hmmm… ocean… salt... ), with great acid and a juicy long linger. Makes my mouth water! Yummy and flavorful on its own & so invites food. Picnic, pate, crustaceans with rock salt please… | ||
|
Special Note This is a 7.5/8 with a healthy pocketbook, but my score of 6.8 is my best guess of a score for an averaging of consumers of all types of pocketbooks. |
||
| Domaine de Pajot ‘08 | $7.50 |
8.5 |
| tags: white wine, france, cotes de gascogne | ||
| From the home of Armagnac (like Cognac but not), and fois gras, it’s a blend of Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Gros Manseng, and Sauvignon Blanc. Certified Organic and family owned, delightfully crisp, fresh and dry in style. Perfect for hot summer days or when you want a refreshing start to a meal. | ||
| Sobon Estate Old Vine Zinfandel ‘07 | $12.00 |
8.0 |
| tags: red wine, california, amador county | ||
| Big, rich, textured zin yet not fully over the top. Great value and made from organically grown grapes. Fully solar powered for their electrical needs and carbon-neutral. Actually, they’re selling carbon-credits… ie, good stuff! | ||
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