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Specs:
2005 Domaine Gerard Seguin Gevrey-Chambertin, Vieilles Vignes
Gevrey-Chambertin (
Côte d'Nuits)
France
13% Alcohol
100% Pinot Noir
$39.00
Notes:
Pinot Noir from the Côte d'Nuits region of France's Burgundy have quickly become my go to wines. The wines coming from the Gevrey-Chambertin commune of this region have yet to let me down. Yes... They are on the pricey side, however, you pay for quality and this Pinot Noir is just that. Gevrey-Chambertin's Burgundies are known worldwide for their complexity as well as for their production of quality Grand Cru wines.
In the glass, the wine is a clear, deep, crimson color with primary aromas of leather and earth, and hints of ripe strawberry and cherry. There is also a woody component to the nose with baking spice, accents of clove and cinammon. In the mouth, it is smooth and silky yet still light. With the red fruit flavors on the forefront, the earthiness becomes more apparent on the palate and the leather and wood finish it off. There is a spicy characteristic to the wine that really balances out the lush fruit along with the mineralistic and acidic qualities adding some complexity. The finish is medium in length ending with a cigar box flavor on the tongue.
Because this Pinot Noir is so light and feminine you would want to pair it with dishes that match its body. Cured meats like salumi and pancetta , grilled low fat meats, and steak tartare would really compliment one another. As far as dessert goes I would suggest this wine as the dessert in itself.
Specs:
2006 Domaine Jean-Paul/Stephane Magnien Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru "Sentiers"
Chambolle-Musigny (Côte-d'Or)
France
13.5% Alcohol
100% Pinot Noir
$54.00
Notes:
Burgundy's are quickly becoming my go-to wines for special occasions, important dinners and well, any other night really. The complexity and flavors that come from Frances Burgundy region are like nothing you have experienced. This wine comes from Côte-d'Or's village of Chambolle-Musigny. This area is known for their high quality Pinot Noir that can usually be characterized as rich, silky if you know your producer. The key to all French wines is just that. Know your producer.
This wine's producer is labeled as Premier or (1er Cru) so you know you are getting a good quality wine off the bat. In the glass the wine is clear with medium intensity and shows garnet hues with some brick coloring around the edges. The aromas are clean and developed with cola, red cherry, baking spice and vanilla scents. The intensity on the nose is moderate and in no way overpowering. On the palate the wine has medium plus acid and moderate tannins and is nicely balanced in the mouth with flavors of cola, cherry, red raspberry and cigar box. The flavors are bright, fresh and beautifully present with a medium silky smooth finish.
Seeing as this is a high quality burgundy with some good acid and present tannins this wine can definitely be cellared for some additional time; perhaps 5-10 years. As far as pairings go; this would pair beautifully with beef stews, oven roasted chicken, mushroom dishes, as well as creamy cheeses like Brie and Epoisses. For dessert, hearty raspberry tarts or strawberry pie would compliment the fruit in the wine nicely. I would suggest buying two bottles... One to drink now and one to cellar. This can be purchased locally through K & L Wine Merchants.
Specs:
2006 Domaine Ecard Savigny Les Beaune 1er Cru "Les Serpentieres"
BurgundyFrance
13% Alcohol
100% Pinot Noir
$39.99
Notes:
I'm am usually a faithful California Pinot lover however, a new friend argued that nothing compares to a French Burgundy. After arguing our top points we came to the "to each their own" conclusion. This little debate compelled me to go out and buy only my 3rd or 4th Burgundy as a way of further proving my point. Much to my dismay when tasting this wine I had to admit...Maybe he had something here.
In the glass the wine is medium in intensity with a rich deep garnet color. The aromas are some of the things you would expect from a Pinot Noir; notes of black cherry, strawberry, currant, hints of oak. What I wasn't expecting was the mineral smell; rust and metal were definitely present but not in a bad way. This out of the ordinary scent helped to cut the intense fruit and oak smell you would anticipate. It was a different quality that definitely let me know this was no New World Pinot.
On the palate the wine is smooth and fruity with mineral flavors on the finish. All the aromas previously found are in the taste of this wine, yet richer and more refined. Ripe black cherry, currant and rust are the main flavor components. The finish is medium in length and is quite enjoyable with hints of earth and minerality.
This well balanced wine can be paired well with many meals because of its mellow fruity flavors. Lean meats, light pasta dishes and desserts like strawberry short cakes would be my first instinct. This wine is hard to find online however I was able to pick up this beautiful french offering at my local BevMo.
Specs:
2006 Olivier Leflaive St-Aubin 1er Cru "En Remilly"
BurgundyPuligny-Montrachet, France
14% Alcohol
100% Chardonnay
http://www.olivier-leflaive.com/
$30.00
Notes:
The Burgundy region of France is known worldwide for their perfection of the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grape. However these varietals seem such a far cry from the Pinot and Chards we drink here in the U.S. You won't find any oak bombs here. The flavors are more refined as they focus more on the grape and less about fussing with it. This medium bodied wine is just that.
The color in the glass is a translucent straw color with hints of light gold in the glass. The nose shows honey, butterscotch, melon, pear, golden delicious apples, vanilla and the slightest hint of oak. Upon first taste you can really pick up the butterscotch, pear and vanilla on the forefront as well as a refreshing hint of cantaloupe. This wine is very well balanced with moderate alcohol and medium acidity. The finish is long and smooth and is the perfect example of a beautiful white burgundy.
When pairing with food I would suggest drinking with white fish, chicken or mushroom dishes as well as sharp cheddars and parmesans. Because of the medium intensity of this wine the sky is the limit on pairing options. This wine can be purchased through K & L Wine Merchants with shops throughout the Bay Area.
