Beaujolais

Alternative to Beaujolais? A Sense of Place - Cotes du Forez

Thoughtfully posted by John on Monday, October 3, 2011.

As was the case over the summer with Adventures on the Wine Route by Kermit Lynch, I have been recently revisiting A Wine and Food Guide to the Loire by Jacqueline Friedrich. My studies currently have me the land of Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc and I have been reminded by both Friedrich’s elegant and descriptive writing and the wines I have been sampling over the past couple of weeks that the Loire Valley is home to some of the most delicious and expressive wines in all of France. And as I continue to remind myself of the relatively unknown wine regions of the world, one such region is the curious enclave located to the west of Beaujolais, but classified as a part of the Loire Valley – the Cotes du Forez.

With its vineyards closer to the Burgundy than the heart of the Loire Valley, the Cotes du Forez is a region often overlooked by both lovers of wines of the Loire Valley and Gamay-heads who worship at the altar of Cru Beaujolais. Gamay is in fact the only grape allowed to be bottled within the Cotes du Forez AOC. No white is produced here – only red and rosé. And like Beaujolais, the best vineyards within the appellation are planted on decomposed granite, though there are outcroppings of volcanic rock scattered throughout as well.

Climatically, the region is warmer than other parts of the Loire Valley and is more similar to Beaujolais and Macon. However, nights are cool, summers do not get too hot over an extended period of time and frost is always a risk in the spring time. And the grapes are grown at an altitude of 400-600 meters which contributes to already high acidity levels and focused, clean and sometimes under ripe fruit flavors...

The Friday Five - Beaujolais 2010, Parker Leaves California, Boxed Wine and Vintage Wine Lists

Thoughtfully posted by John on Thursday, August 4, 2011.

Happy Friday (and Thursday!)

Though I am not trying to rush the seasons, the 72 degree and breezy morning here in New Jersey is making me think of college football, apple cider and a light sweater – all hallmarks of fall, my favorite Cornas drinking season. However, summer is nowhere near over as I am heading down with friends to the Water Club in Atlantic City to have daiquiris poolside and take a day to enjoy the sun. In anticipation of not wanting to write tomorrow, here is your Friday Five a day early.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and remember, abandon the ordinary and pick up a bottle of something spectacular.

-John

I’ll Take the ’96 Veuve Cliquot, Please

This week, in her series Vintage America, Talia Baiocchi writes about the history wine lists as she focuses on wine lists that appeared before the turn of the 20^th Century. Historical documents fascinate me. And those that focus on the importance of wine on our cultures past doubles down on the fun factor. It comes as no surprise that Sherry, Champagne, Bordeaux...

What is Eric Texier Up To Now?

Thoughtfully posted by John on Friday, July 15, 2011.

Beaujolais might be one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. That is what I was thinking over and over as the David Bowler European Tour arrived atop Madone. The hill, which overlooks the hills and valleys of the ten Crus of Beaujolais, reminded how long it has been since I have embraced the serenity of near-absolute silence. And not the suburban silence with the occasional car zipping by or plane soaring overhead, but near total silence with only the wind, sunshine and rustling of grapevine leaves providing the soundtrack for a near perfect country lunch high above the home of Gamay. Thankfully, the next day we were treated to a similar solitude during sunset while dining with Eric Texier at his home in Charnay. I asked the Rhone producer how often he watched the sun set over the hills to the west of his observation deck-like patio and his response was what I expected – every day.

We met Eric earlier in the day at his winery. Though Eric is known for making wines from the Rhone Valley, his wines are aged and bottled in Charnay – a quaint village situated in the southernmost reaches of Beaujolais. Part of me was left behind in this little town where we were lucky enough to watch a wedding (with the rest of the town), stroll through the flower laden streets and eat at an irresistibly cute Auberge with Jean-Paul Brun.

Though he makes wines from Chateauneuf-du-Pape to Brezeme (and nearly everything in between), the vineyard outside his winery in Charnay has me once again contemplating the idea of terroir and one particular wine’s sense of place....

2011 - Time for Less Analysis and More Context

Thoughtfully posted by John on Monday, January 3, 2011.

Perhaps the greatest obstacle for me with sharing my thoughts on the best wines that come across my dinner table is to not allow over-analysis and abstract criticism get in the way of what’s most important – enjoying the bottle with food among friends. The most significant flaw in reviewing wines in a blind and sterile tasting room setting is that the best wines in the world are often treated as if they are sports cars being tested by Consumer Reports on a closed track. You could easily substitute comments on handling, performance and traction for the superlatives that are bestowed upon the highest rated wines in
leading wine publications such as Wine Spectator and the Wine Advocate...

John's blog
Login or register to post comments
Read more

What I've Learned - 2010

Thoughtfully posted by John on Thursday, December 30, 2010.

One of my favorite monthly print publications is Esquire Magazine. A spin-off of Gentleman’s Quarterly, Esquire is less trashy and more intelligent than most of the gossipy monthlies out there. In between advertisements, offers readers fashion, travel and a bit of food and beverage advice. Perhaps the most entertaining piece each month is the What I’ve Learned interview of veteran politicians, established Hollywood icons and creaky and grizzled sports greats. And each year, they end the year with the What I’ve Learned issue. In lieu of putting together a ‘Best of 2010’ or a ‘2011 Resolutions’ list, I think I am going to mull over what
I’ve learned in 2010...

John's blog
Login or register to post comments
Read more

Hire The Wine Culture Project!

Our Friends - Teroldego and Tomatoes

Take Some Time for Some Insight

Alternative to Beaujolais? A Sense of Place - Cotes du Forez

The Friday Five - Beaujolais 2010, Parker Leaves California, Boxed Wine and Vintage Wine Lists

What is Eric Texier Up To Now?

2011 - Time for Less Analysis and More Context

What I've Learned - 2010

WCP's Television Debut on FOX Business!

Follow The Wine Culture Project!

Popular Tags