One of the first wines I reviewed for Quench (then Tidings), in 2012. It has improved with age and is still drinking well, although it probably peaked a few years ago and is now on its last legs. Clear old gold color. Nose of apple pie topped with sweet sherry custard. A little volatile acidity betrays its age. Tastes of bruised apple drizzled with lemon. Drink up.
Everyone should have a bottle of Chablis at all time in their fridge. Or in this case, Petit Chablis. It fits so many occasions, especially in the summer. Light body with thirst-quenching acidity and vibrant notes of green apple and lime with a touch of wet stone on the finish. A great match with oysters, salad made from fresh garden vegetables or simply alone as an aperitif.
Clear pale silvery yellow. Faint nose in which one can detect almost all of the citrus fruits. Medium-bodied with good acidity and more flavour than the eye and the nose predict: more citrus, pineapple, apple. Will last and perhaps improve with another year or two.
Clear pale gold. Fairly intense nose of nuts, apples, rhubarb, a bit of celeriac. Light-bodied with high acidity, tasting of apple and oak. Drink now.
Made predominately of Marsanne (65%). At first the wine charms you with its generosity of fruit and opulence. Then the firm and compact structure on the finish, reminiscent of the chalky texture found in some Champagne, surprises and leaves you wanting more. Pretty and precise aromas of honey, Meyer lemon, wax and a hint of stone fruit lingers and finishes on a pleasant saline note. Profound and complex. Beautiful match with pan-seared scallops.
White wines from the Rhone are useful as food wines. Like most such wines, this one is a blend of several grape varieties, in this case mostly Viognier and Grenache Blanc. The blend creates complex aromas and flavours which are versatile with a range of foods. Medium gold in color, this smells of canned peaches, banana and pineapple with a hint of hazelnut. Full-bodied, tasting of apricot with more of that nutty bitterness on the finish. One of the few wines that actually complements creamy cheeses like Brie.
80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 6% Mourvèdre and 4% Cinsault. Grenache can easily become a caricature of itself but that’s definitely not the case with this wine! Although rich with abundant notes of wild strawberries and raspberries, the wine displays finesse and elegance. Supple tannins and the alcohol of 14.5% is well integrated with the concentration of flavours. Lovely notes of garrigues on the lingering finish. A great match with chicken fricassee served with morel mushrooms.