From the category archives:

France

Vin d’Alsace Pinot Gris Cave de Beblenheim

21 November 2011
Thumbnail image for Vin d’Alsace Pinot Gris Cave de Beblenheim

For those in any doubt, there couldn’t be much more difference between Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio. Common sense and, moreover, a passing knowledge of French and Italian, will tell you they are basically meant to refer to the same thing (the thing being a grape in this case), but then so are ‘Syrah‘ and [...]

Read the full article →

Château Bouscaut White 2010

9 November 2011
Thumbnail image for Château Bouscaut White 2010

…or should that be ‘Blanc‘? Probably. Either way it certainly would have helped us work out what this Bordeaux actually was before we opened it to accompany a Saturday evening run-through of retro ’70s board game, Kingmaker, last weekend. A friend brough the bottle along, having been given it by his sister, who in turn [...]

Read the full article →

Chante Alouette – A Rhone White Wine

17 October 2011
Thumbnail image for Chante Alouette – A Rhone White Wine

When people speak of the wines of Hermitage they usually don’t think of white wines, but the region grows and makes some fine whites that can often age for many years. Marsanne and Roussanne are the two varieties most commonly used to make white wine in the Rhone Valley and roussanne is one of white grape [...]

Read the full article →

Chateau Climens 1983 – a Classic Dessert Wine

12 October 2011
Thumbnail image for Chateau Climens 1983 – a Classic Dessert Wine

One of the best ways to end a meal, in my opinion, is with a glass of dessert wine. One of the most famous dessert wine-producing regions in the world is in Bordeaux. The wines of Sauternes and Barsac-Sauternes come from the southern part of the region and are usually made with either Sauvignon Blanc [...]

Read the full article →

Viognier Vin de Pays d’Oc 2009, Délas Frères

7 October 2011
Thumbnail image for Viognier Vin de Pays d’Oc 2009, Délas Frères

It may not be as well known as Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc, but Viognier is definitely on the up in terms of popularity. Until the 80s only a relatively small amount was being grown in France. It is a tricky grape to grow: one that requires the grapes to be fully ripened before they impart [...]

Read the full article →

An ABC of French White Wine Grapes

3 October 2011
Thumbnail image for An ABC of French White Wine Grapes

French wines are amongst the most popular and widely drunk wines in the world and the French are renowned for the quality of their top wines. However, because of the French classification system which means that the wines are labelled according to their region of production rather than the grapes used to produce the wine, [...]

Read the full article →

Marks & Spencer Saint Mont 2009

20 September 2011
Thumbnail image for Marks & Spencer Saint Mont 2009

I’d have sworn blind this was a Sauvignon Blanc if it was from any country other than France, but being from France – as it undoubtedly is – it ought to be no surprise to me or anyone else that it’s actually made from Gros Manseng, Petit Courbu & Arrufiac - three grapes I’d never heard [...]

Read the full article →

Elegant Rosé Wines From Provence

5 September 2011
Thumbnail image for Elegant Rosé Wines From Provence

Think of a summer wine and a rosé from the French region of Provence will be one of the first to come to mind. Pale, dry and elegant at their best, rosés from the region epitomise picnics and al fresco dining during the balmy summer days and light, warm evenings and make a welcome change [...]

Read the full article →

Cotes de Provence Grenache 2009

26 August 2011
Thumbnail image for Cotes de Provence Grenache 2009

If there was an Olympic event in guessing the base wine-grape behind a rosé, I wouldn’t even be in contention for a bronze medal. (Not that I’m in contention for any other Olympic event bronze medals, mind you.) From the smell, I’d probably have guessed this fancily bottled little French number was a Pinot Noir, [...]

Read the full article →

2008 Domaine Henry Pellé Sancerre Rosé

17 June 2011
Thumbnail image for 2008 Domaine Henry Pellé Sancerre Rosé

I’ve been coveting this for a while. It’s rare enough that I splash out on a Sancerre (and I do like a Sancerre), but this is an even rarer thing; to me Sancerre spells Sauvignon Blanc – or at least it has ever since I found out what was in it, about a year ago. [...]

Read the full article →

Valençay Le Clos du Château 2009 Claude Lafond

9 May 2011
Thumbnail image for Valençay Le Clos du Château 2009 Claude Lafond

Outside of Sancerre I have little-to-no experience of the Loire valley – or rather, its wines. But that’s where Valençay is, and the presence of bizarre sentences like “A castle of financial” and “He connects it by a body of gallery” on its Wikipedia page suggest it’s not yet been overrun by British tourists, at [...]

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries