The descriptions found below are the ones you will find with your monthly shipment of two bottles of fine wine from the French Wine Club.
Red: Cuvée de Pena 2001
The name does not sound French, but Cuvée de Pena comes from the “Pyrénées Orientales” (Western Pyrénées), a few miles from Perpignan. The Spanish border is only 15 miles away, and the Mediterranean Sea is 20 miles from the vineyard.
The Languedoc-Roussillon region is simply huge, 3 times the size of Bordeaux. Until recently, however, it was rarely mentioned at wine tastings. The explanation is simple: very few of the wines produced there carried the crucial words “Appellation controlée” on their labels.
Cuvée de Pena is an Unfiltered Vin de Pays. It is a blend of old vine Carignan, Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre. The wine is aged in concrete and bottled without filtration. It has a medium garnet color and a lot of softness, and is almost velvety on the palate. It reveals a sweet nose of black cherries, smoke, earth and pepper. It is richly fruity, well made, pure, and supple-textured. It will provide lovely drinking over the next two years.
To order, click here: Bottle ($14.75), Case ($159.30).
White: Vin de Pays de l'Aude: La Noble
When you think of the Aude, just remember the city of Carcassonne, a lot of sun, and the Mediterranean Sea a few miles away. Yves Delmas has been successful year after year in producing this excellent 100% Chardonnay.
La Noble has a light color and is nicely developed, and yet it has fresh aromas typical of Chardonnay. It has notes of peach and honeysuckle. It is long on the palate, ripe but crisp with a lovely balance. It is light enough to use as an aperitif on its own or to enjoy at the table with unfussy meals. It is great with chicken, salads and pork.
To order, click here: Bottle ($14.75), Case ($159.30). |
Previous Wine of the Month Selections:
March 2004:
Red: Côte Chalonnaise 1999
White: Domaine Schlumberger, Pinot Blanc 2002
February 2004:
Red: Château la Bastide, Cabardes, 1999
White: Domaine de Rieux 2002
January 2004:
Red: Julienas 2001
White: Domaine de Molines 1999, Vin de Pays du Gard
December 2003:
Red: Château Castegens, Côtes de Castillon 1998
White: Domaine de Molines 1999, Vin de Pays du Gard
November 2003:
Red: Moulin d'Eole Costières de Nîmes 2001 (Languedoc-Roussillon)
White: Vouvray 1999, Domaine du Clos de l’Epinay, Cuvée Marcus (Loire Valley)
October 2003:
Red: Domaine du Vieux Chêne, Cuvée des Capucines, Côtes du Rhone 2001
White: Ile La Forge, Viognier 2002, Languedoc-Roussillon
September 2003:
Red: Château Reysson 1998, Cru Bourgeois Haut-Médoc
White: Château les Tuileries 2002
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