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$12.95
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France
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South of France
In stock, 12+ available
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A surprisingly lush, full example of its appellation that might disappoint those looking for more typically bright, tart, lighter Picpoul virtues. Ripe pear and honeydew melon are tinged with pungent herbs as well as bitter melon rind and pear pip, and a hint of white pepper in the finish adds further stimulation.
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$21.95
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WS 89
France
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South of France
In stock, 12+ available
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List $27.00
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89 points Wine Spectator: "[$27 list] An intense, focused white, displaying interesting notes of chalk and sea salt to the firm flavors of apple, melon and smoke. Hints of dried apricot and lavender mark the finish. Drink now through 2017. 30 cases imported. (2012)"
Producer notes: "With a production of 1,250 cases, the Bandol Blanc consists primarily of Clairette and Ugni Blanc, with Bourboulenc and Sauvignon Blanc rounding out the blend and bringing aromatic complexity and freshness. Malolactic fermentation avoided. After fermentation, the wine was aged 5 months in stainless steel tanks or concrete before bottling."
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$23.95
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France
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South of France
In stock,
9
available
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Paul Strang (South-West France: The Wines and Winemakers): "The Barré family has been growing vines at Viella since 1850, and Didier represents the sixth generation... His roguish and teasing manner conceals a deep seriousness for his wines, which are regularly cited as among the best of the region. The vineyard covers about 24 hectares, partly on a pebbly-clay plateau to the west of the village and partly on a south-eastern slope over the east where Didier grows his grapes for pacherenc. Some of his vines go back 100 years."
The cuvee "Vitis MCM" is made with 100% Tannat harvested from vines planted in 1900 and aged in 80% new oak barrels.
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$17.95
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France
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South of France
In stock,
1
available
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From Madiran, Southwest France. 90% Tannat, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from vines over 50 years old. Very ripe, rich Madiran that takes no prisoners. This wine succeeds in obtaining more fruit than tannin! The color is nearly opaque - - it doesn't get much darker than this. It displays notes of black fruit (blackcurrant and blackberry) along with just a hint of red fruit. There is a cedar-like creaminess to the oak which is extremely well-integrated. Tannins pick up on the finish but, let's face it, this is Madiran and that is to be expected. These tannins disolve when the wine is matched with richly flavored meats like leg of lamb, duck, goose or game.
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$13.95
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France
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South of France
In stock, 12+ available
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50% Gros Manseng, 25% Petit Courbu, 25% Petit Manseng. Golden yellow with green highlights. Subtle aromas of citrus, exotic fruits and acadia flowers. Fresh attack, full palate, fruity and rich. A harmoniously balanced wine. Drink for 5 years as an aperitif, or with shellfish or other seafood.
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$18.95
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WS 87
France
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South of France
In stock,
8
available
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List $28.00
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87 points Wine Spectator: "[$28 list] Peppery and juicy, with red plum flavors backed up by paprika and spice notes, with a zesty finish. Drink now through 2013. 900 cases made. (10/15/10)"
Producer notes: "Delicate wine with a strong minerality which is typical of this soil -- very sloping laminated schist slopes and sandy shales. These grounds allow a very deep rooting of the vines, thus limiting the effect of drought which is dreaded so much under our Mediterranean climate. 'Les Schistes' is a blend of 60% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 5% Carignan. 'Les Schistes' wants to express all the delicacy and the purity of this soil."
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$11.95
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RR 91
France
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South of France
In stock,
2
available
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List $15.00
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91 points Rhone Report: "[$15 list] A thrilling white, as well as an unbelievable value, the 2010 Michel Gassier Cotes du Rhone Villages Visan Cercius, a blend of Grenache Blanc and Sauvignon that's aged on lees and all in concrete tank, delivers a perfumed, intense array of melon, grapefruit, green herbs, and brilliant wet stone-like minerality on the nose. Showing some real edge and cut to the aromas, the palate fleshes out and shows a medium+ bodied, textured, and full feel, beautiful purity of fruit, and brilliant acidity that carries the finish. Extremely versatile on the dinner table, this outstanding white should be purchased by the case load and consumed over the coming 1-2 years. (Sep 2011)"
70% Grenache Blanc, 30% Sauvignon Blanc. Organic. Aged on the lees in concrete vat. 25 year old vines. On the southern edge of the Rhone Valley near the ancient city of Nimes the legendary mistral winds of Provence -- "Cercius" in Latin -- sweep over the vineyards and out to the Mediterranean Sea. The brisk cross winds protect the grapes' freshness which is preserved during vinification in concrete tanks. Rich, ripe almost honey-like nose with prominent mineral character. Food pairing: Versatile. White meats, fish with light herb to heavy cream sauce.
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$11.95
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RR 90
France
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South of France
In stock, 12+ available
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List $15.00
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90 points Rhone Report: "[$15 list] Beautifully fresh and lively, the 2011 Michel Gassier Cercius Blanc, a blend of Grenache Blanc and Sauvignon, delivers an outstanding bouquet of citrus-laced wild herbs, lime, and loads of wet stone-like minerality that flows to a medium bodied, juicy, acid driven palate that has a pure, focused texture and outstanding length. A smoking value, this is perfect for a hot summer day or for starting a meal. Given the balance and freshness, it will most likely age well, yet I still recommend drinking bottles in their first year or two. (Sep 2012)"
Producer notes: "70% Grenache Blanc, 30% Sauvignon Blanc. Straw yellow with soft green highlights. Very aromatic, predominantly aromas of citrus, flowers, and flint. Medium bodied and crisp, pairs well with roasted monkfish, paprika grilled game hen, and goat cheeses."
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$12.95
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RP 90
WS 89
France
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South of France
In stock,
5
available
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90 points Robert Parker: No tasting note given. Previous vintage rated 92-94 points by Robert Parker: "...very high quality and deserve[s] readers’ attention. Hopefully my prose has convinced more than a handful of readers to try these remarkable wines from one of the most fascinating and compelling personalities in the entire wine world, and one dedicated to the highest quality."
89 points Wine Spectator: "Features powerful pear tart and spiced apple flavors, which are joined by notes of dried mango and fig. Hints of shiso leaf and tarragon show on the firm, focused finish. Drink now through 2016. (5/31/13)"
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$22.95
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WA 91–92
France
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South of France
In stock,
9
available
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91-92 points David Schildknecht (Wine Advocate): "From Grenache, Carignan, and Syrah planted in a mixture of gneiss, schist, and chalk, and vinified half each in tank and barrel (demi-muids as well as barriques), the 2009 Cotes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France Occultum Lapidem - due to have been bottled in May - is scented with rosemary, sage, blackberry, mulberry, which are joined on a rich, expansive palate by marrow-rich meatiness and a striking, saline, iodine-tinged savor that I can only liken to shrimp shell reduction. (It there's a wine for "surf 'n turf," it's this.) The sense of clarity, brightness, and energy here is utterly infectious and the combination of pure dark fruits, invigoratingly pungent smokiness, and saliva-inducing salinity is bound to induce hunger - among other things for the next sip. Look for at least ten or a dozen years of stimulating acquaintance. (Jun 2011)"
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$13.95
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France
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South of France
In stock, 12+ available
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This estate is one of the oldest and best in Cahors and their wines convey a wonderful sense of elegance. The blend is 80% Malbec (known locally as Cot), the traditional grape of the region, blended with 20% Merlot which gives finesse and bouquet. Yields average 40-45 hl/ha (about 2.5 - tons/acre.) Astonishing elegance, red fruit with spicy overtones. A well-constructed wine. Clos La Coutale can be drunk young thanks to its good fruit, but has great aging potential, between 10-20 years. This wine accompanies duck, red meat and tasty cheeses perfectly.
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$12.95
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France
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South of France
In stock,
7
available
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Marcillac is an AOC in South West France between Bordeaux and the Rhône Valley. The main variety here is Mansois, with the remainder being made up mostly of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. In this region, Mansois produces a lighter wine with good color, hints of raspberry fruit, and a pronounced aroma of ground spice and red pepper. The 2009 vintage from Costes Rouges was selected to be featured by the Hachette Guide 2010, an indication of its quality.
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$19.95
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France
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South of France
In stock, 12+ available
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Importer notes: "Kaya Blanc is no 'international style' wine, but is Catalan through-and-through, composed of 60% Grenache Gris, 20% Grenache Blanc and 20% Carignan Blanc. The vines are densely planted (5,000 per hectare) forcing the roots to delve deeply into the granitic-clay of the north-facing, terraced vineyard near Tautavel. The exposition is important, as it spares the vines from the punishing southerly sun and preserves the freshness of the fruit. All work in the vines is done by hand. Harvest is made manually, too, with grapes being collected carefully in small boxes to be brought from the vineyard. Very light pneumatic pressing is followed by fermentation and then aging on the fine lees in third-year barrels with bâtonnages. Kaya is full-bodied, with flavors and aromas that hint at quince, spiced pear and minerals, with a creamy texture. An excellent partner with shellfish and simply roasted chicken."
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$11.95
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WA 89
France
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South of France
In stock, 12+ available
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89 points David Schildknecht (Wine Advocate): "Guilhem Durant's 2009 Syrah Vieilles Vignes Les Genets is sweetly-fruited with cherry and cassis; pungently tinged with resinous herbs, black pepper, and smoked meat; underlain by peat and stone; plush and polished in texture; and finishes with an exuberance and abundance of fresh fruit unexpected in a wine of its vintage, making it as usual an outstanding value, and likely to remain so for at least the next 2-3 years. (Jun 2011)"
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$18.95
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France
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South of France
In stock, 12+ available
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This cuvée is subtitled 'Empreinte du Temps,' which could be translated 'fingerprint of time.' It is made from a small parcel of gnarled, low-yielding 130-year-old Carignan vines growing in gravelly, pebbly clay. Not only is the vine age remarkable, but so is its grape composition: Carignan is not unusual in the Roussillon, but wines that are 100% this variety are. Organic/biodynamic.
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$22.95
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France
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South of France
In stock, 12+ available
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60% Grenache blanc, 35% Grenache gris, 5% Roussanne. Round and fat, well structured with a lingering aromatic finish. The nose is rich and intense. Pairs well with seafood, including shellfish.
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$16.95
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France
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South of France
In stock, 12+ available
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This warm, sunny, expressive Mediterranean red is composed of 40% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 20% Carignan, and 5% Mourvèdre grown on the clay-limestone soils of Vingrau, near Corbières. Elevage takes place half in stainless steel and half in oak (demi-muid and barrique) that is at least two vintages old prior to bottling.
Les Meilleurs Vins de France 2009 (published by La Revue du Vin de France): "Jean Gardiés took over the family domaine in 1990, giving priority to the production of wines from the Côtes du Roussillon, in this way reducing the importance of sweet wines, which don't represent more than 4 hectares of vineyard land. The reds here are particularly interesting, with a lovely [sense of] volume in the mouth..."
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$24.95
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France
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South of France
In stock, 12+ available
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$11.95
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RR 90
France
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South of France
In stock, 12+ available
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List $15.00
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90 points Rhone Report: "Very floral and perfumed, with tropical styled fruit, the 2011 Domaine Gardiés Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes Mas Las Cabes is a blend of 70% Muscat, 15% Grenache Blanc, and 15% Macabeo that was aged 5 months on lees. Slightly exotic, star fruit, lemon, and lavender aromas and flavors developing with air, it is medium-bodied, fleshy, and polished on the palate, with a supple, rich texture, and a clean finish. Very well made, it should be served on the cooler side, and consumed over the coming 2-3 years. (Mar 2013)"
'20 Great Wines for $20 or Less,' San Francisco Chronicle: "[$15 list] Complex white from one of France's unheralded Roussillon. Jean Gardies is a name to remember in the Roussillon -- in part for the wines from his family's domaine, but also for the affordable Las Cabes wines from the town of Espira de l'Agly. This is Catalan France, and so the mix of Muscat, Grenache Blanc and Macabeu straddles that Pyrenees border between two cultures. The results are impressive in any language: ripe pear, bay leaf and citrus blossom accent a plush wine that simply relies on great old-vine fruit and minimal winemaking. (2/29/12)"
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$23.95
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WA 91–92
RR 91
France
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South of France
In stock, 12+ available
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91-92 David Schildknecht (Wine Advocate): "Assembled and one month away from bottling when I tasted it, the Gauby 2010 Cotes du Roussillon Blanc Les Calcinaire - from Chardonnay, Macabeu, Grenache Gris, Muscat, and Vermentino; on galets roules; pressed whole-cluster; and vinified largely in tank - offers a glorious, effuse bouquet of diverse herbs and flowers, including mint, narcissus and lily-of-the-valley. Luscious fresh pear, Persian melon, and nut oils mingle with inner-mouth florality on a caressing yet juicily refreshing palate, while a nip of cress and an ineffable rush of crystalline mineral matter and marine salinity combine for a finish of shiver- as well as saliva-inducing invigoration. As fine as any rendition of this cuvee that I have ever tasted, I would plan on enjoying this over the next 3-4 years. (Jun 2011)"
91 points Rhone Report: "A lovely bottle of wine, Gauby’s 2010 Les Calcinaires Blanc is made from an eclectic blend of Chardonnay, Macabeu, Grenache Gris, Muscat, and Vermentino. Fresh and lively, yet with a deep, inherent richness, it possesses beautiful aromas of citrus, lime peel, honeysuckle, and a salty sea breeze like qualities on the nose. This flows to a medium-bodied, mineral-tinged palate that has excellent acidity, building richness that comes through on the mid-palate, and a clean, classically structured, dry finish. A superb white to pair with seafood, or even to have on its own, this beauty will impress for at least another 3-4 years, and could certainly have an interesting evolution beyond that as well. (Mar 2013)"
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$13.95
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France
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South of France
In stock, 12+ available
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This delightful blend of Grenache, Carignan, and Syrah has a soft, rosy hue complemented by rhubarb and strawberry on the nose. This wine over-delivers on the palate with ripe peach and raspberry, and its lifted herbal and floral notes balance the equation. The finish refreshing and crisp accompanied by subtle white pepper. This is everything you want in a French rosé.
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$13.95
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France
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South of France
In stock, 12+ available
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60% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 10% Carignan. Shiny salmon-pink shades. Subtle floral aromas with a long-lasting dry finish. Great balance and finesse. Enjoy with crustaceans, seafood dishes, with meats and all Mediterranean/Provençal dishes. Serve very chilled.
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$12.95
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W&S 88
France
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South of France
In stock, 12+ available
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'Top 100 Values of 2010' and 88 points Wine & Spirits: "This sparkler's zingy lemon-lime flavors evolve into fuller pineapple notes, a yeasty character adding breadth. With its cardamom-like spice, it's suited to rich fish or roasted chicken. (Jun 2010)"
A value sparkling wine from around the city of Limoux in Languedoc in southwestern France. Crémant de Limoux contains primarily Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc, with the addition of Mauzac (locally known as Blanquette) and Pinot Noir. AOC regulations dictate that the wine be aged for a least a year on the lees prior to disgorgement.
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$14.95
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WA 88
France
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South of France
In stock, 12+ available
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List $18.00
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88 points David Schildknecht (Wine Advocate): "[$18 list] While I could not locate a sample of its successor, the Jacquins’ 2009 Roussette de Savoie Altesse seems to have at least another couple of years in it, and demonstrates that even in a relatively low-acid vintage (and seemingly influenced in addition by the effects of malo-lactic conversion) there is more than enough sense of primary juiciness in a Jacquin Altesse, even if in this instance not really brightness or focus. Musk, hazelnut, orange zest, fresh fig, and quince present an attractive aromatic display that reminds me a bit -- as have none previously from this grape -- of Semillon as well as Chenin, a resemblance that even extends to the combination of oily richness with underlying firmness and faintly austere stoniness that emerges on the palate. The sheer persistence here is formidable, if rather bitterly marked by lime and orange rind. I would plan to drink this over the next 12-18 months. (Apr 2012)"
A delicious, thirst-quenching wine from Savoie, with more body than Jacquère or Chasselas, and more subtle aromas than Roussanne. Quince, flowers, apricot and a touch of honey rise from the medium-bodied palate, which finishes with just a hint of mountain tonic. A wonderful match for light to medium-bodied white fish, cold chicken salads, shrimp dim sum, and crab fritters.
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$13.95
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France
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South of France
In stock, 12+ available
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