So, the continuing story of the Wine Crawl ...
But first, a note from our sponsors: if you look at the sidebar on the right, you'll see that we've added the "Snooth Search" toolbar. Now, you can look up any wine we mention on Wine Giques by typing it into the toolbar. You'll be taken to the Snooth.com site, and --hey presto-- they'll tell you where to buy it! Just like magic. BTW, we get a little cash for each referral, so please search early and often.
Now, on to the Wine Crawl ...
After downing the caviar and bubbly, we wandered off to the next house -- um, country-- which just happened to be la belle France. Now, France is actually rather a good-sized place, with more than one well-developed wine-growing region. (It ain't like, say, Moldava, which is a tiny little country that produces a boatload of wine.) France's wine culture is extremely well-defined, and extremely, perhaps fractiously, segmented. The Bordeaux battle the Burgundies, with a licking from the Rhône Valley, while the Alsatians ignore them all. Poets wax poetic and writers write away, declaiming the virtues of one region over the other. The competition is intense, sometimes leading to the passage of some very quirky Gallic legislation.
What do you do in such a situation? Why, pour several wines from several regions, of course.
Our Wine Crawl visit to France included a luscious 2004 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Cotes Du Rhône, a tasty 2005 La Poussie Sancerre, and a lovely 2003 Meursault Domaine Parigot.
The Coudoulet is a blend of varietal grapes: Mourvedre, Grenache, Syrah, and Counoise (which is used in Rhône wines for its acidity and pepper notes). Flavors of raspberries and dried herbs with a tiny bit of truffle; delicious with the rabbit rillette.
The La Poussie Sancerre is grown in an unusual Loire Valley area that is shaped like an amphitheatre (a great place for poets to declaim about wine!). It's 100% Sauvignon Blanc, sporting little hints of lavender and a zesty bit of lemon. Cheese was called for.
The Meursault is a classic French Chardonnay designed to make you call for a beret and some quiche. (We had no berets, but the quiche was duly provided). The spread of food was almost overwhelmingly divine --- the aforementioned rillette, cheeses and quiche, plus toasted baguette slices with ratatouille. Edith Piaf may have been in the crowd; no Jerry Lewis in sight, however.
But enough of France! Our next stop on the route was my joint, Spain.
And don't forget, if you want tips on doing your own Wine Crawl, please email us. Photo by Lisa Norwood.
Comments