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Domain Wines, NOT-SO DOMAIN PRICES ATANAS NECHKOV, CENTRAL FLORIDA WINE SUPERVISOR Great wine values can be found in any wine region and at any price range, but it is the all popular $10 to $15 category that is the most challenging when it comes to finding value. This is also the most shopped category and the one with most abundant choices, and a plethora of ever-changing labels. What should the smart consumer look for The answer is domain wines instead of brands. A domain wine is produced and bottled in the wine estate, usually from grapes grown in the domain’s vineyards. Some would argue right away that a domain wine costs a lot more than $10; true in most cases, but not always. This is where wine experts and buyers come to play an important role: finding the best possible quality at the right price. Some wine regions offer more choices than others in this less-than-$15 category. The following three wine regions offer the most abundant choices for value in today’s market: Rhône Valley/Provence, Languedoc and Bordeaux. Bordeaux Yes, even Bordeaux!! Only the top tiers of classified châteaux in Bordeaux have reached astronomical prices driven by the high demand of emerging markets like China. But for the rest of the “petits châteaux” whose prices are often $20 or less, it has been business as usual and prices have not changed much in the past 15 years; quality, on the other hand, is higher than ever, especially with vintages like 2009/2010. A favorite and best-selling red wine from Bordeaux is l’Orangerie de Carignan 2010, Bordeaux, France ($13). There is a real château at Carignan, unlike many other Bordeaux wine domains, where “Château” is only part of the name. Carignan was first built in the 11th century on the site of a Roman villa. wine journal | 8 It was given by King Charles VII of France to Jean Poton de Xaintrailles, who was a companion-in-arms of Joan of Arc and fought the English invasion in the Hundred Years’ War. In 1452 Poton de Xaintrailles rebuilt the castle in its present state, and a year later in 1453, he was victorious over the English troops led by Constable Talbot in the battle of Castillon, the battle that ended the Hundred Years’ War. He then reattached Bordeaux (Aquitaine) to the kingdom of France. L’Orangerie de Carignan 2010, a blend of 60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc, is the best-selling wine by the glass (out of thousands) at restaurants and brasseries in the city of Bordeaux! And the reason for that is, besides being best value in its class, this wine shows well on its own and pairs well with red meats, light appetizers, poultry and aged cheeses. The 2010 Orangerie has medium intensity, supple palate, soft and ripe tannins and aromas of red currant and cranberry. The 2011 Orangerie will also be available soon. Rhône Valley/Provence Some of the best values in wine today come from the Rhône Valley and Provence. One of our recent best-finds-ever was Clos d’Alzan, Côtes du Rhône Villages Signargues 2012 ($13). Clos d’Alzan is a single vineyard of very old vine Grenache—some of the vines are over 80 years old! Situated right across from Châteauneuf du Pape on the opposite bank of the Rhône River, the soil is composed of the same galets roulés, large rolled stones, found in the Châteauneuf du Pape appellation. The consulting oenologist for Clos d’Alzan is Xavier Vignon, one of the most talented winemakers in the Rhône Valley today. The exceptional quality of the terroir, combined with the precise and skillful winemaking of Xavier, make Clos d’Alzan one of the best values ever! The 2012 is my all-time favorite Clos d’Alzan; the wine shows perfect balance, gobs of dark berry fruit, assertive tannins, and good minerality with a long-lasting finish in this exceptional vintage. Enjoy with your favorite Mediterranean dishes, pastas, grilled meats and vegetables and aged cheeses. From the neighboring Provence comes the latest addition to our fine selection of organic and biodynamic wines, Château Trians Rosé 2013 ($15). This wine is a spectacular achievement— quite possibly the best rosé ever; round, with rich texture, yet bright and fruity with a perfect balance! The vineyards at Château Trians were first planted to the vine 20 centuries ago when the domain’s lands were part of a large Roman villa, Villa Triana. Today the wine estate at Château Trians covers 49 acres of organically farmed vineyards in the Massif of Cuers, 30 kilometers north of Toulon in Provence, France. Most of the wine is produced under the Côteaux Varois en Provence Appellation. The 2013 Château Trians Rosé, a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Cinsault and 10% Syrah, exhibits light salmon-pink color and aromas and flavors of strawberry, cranberry and field flowers. The mouthfeel is rich and perfectly balanced with pure fruit, refreshing acidity, medium intensity and a long, round finish. Enjoy as aperitif or served with mixed salads, seafood dishes, grilled meats and aged cheeses. Languedoc The next favorite and top-value wine comes from the Languedoc region of Southern France, Château Petit Roubié, Picpoul de Pinet 2011 ($11).
Château Petit Roubié has been family-owned by Floriane and Olivier Azan since 1981 and organically farmed since 1985. The winery is located in the small town of Pinet (population 1,300), a place that would have been totally unknown to the world if it wasn’t for the great white wine produced there from the Picpoul grape. Olivier Azan is a firm believer in organic farming; his Picpoul vineyards have been free of chemicals and synthetic fertilizers for over 26 years. These happy vines are planted on a high plateau overlooking the Mediterranean; happy vines = good wine. The Picpoul de Pinet from Petit Roubier is a pure, honest, well-crafted and exciting wine that gives great pleasure when consumed as an aperitif and will enhance any seafood dish, particularly raw oysters! In fact, this area is also famous for some of France’s best oysters. The 2011 Picpoul from Petit Roubié exhibits aromas and flavors of white flowers, ripe citrus and sweet apple; the finish is clean, refreshing and long-lasting. There is not enough room in a single article to include detailed notes on all our favorite best-value wines less than $15; besides the four featured wines, here is a list of a just a few more great wines you don’t want to miss. Happy tasting! Gouleyant, Cahors Malbec 2012 - $12 Domaine de Pellehaut, Côtes de Gascogne Rosé 2013 - $10 Domaine de Pellehaut, Côtes de Gascogne Red 2012 - $10 Domaine de Pellehaut, Côtes de Gascogne White 2013 - $10 M. Chapoutier, Bila-Haut, Côtes de Roussillon White 2012 - $13 Bila-Haut, Pays d’Oc Rosé 2013 - $13 Domaine Magellan, Vin de Pays de l’Hérault Red 2009 - $12 Domaine de la Chauvinière, Muscadet Sèvre et Maine 2012 – $10 Perrier, Vin de Savoie Apremont 2012 - $13 Veuve Ambal Crémant de Bourgogne Brut - $15
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Page 3 and 4: POP CULTURE IN WINE KATHLEEN ANDERS
Page 5 and 6: WHITE WINES LEAD THE WAY AT BORDEAU
Page 7: there are so many popping up and so
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Page 13 and 14: The vineyards and castle of Grumell
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