Sunday, April 22, 2012

A Summer White Post in Spring



Since March 2012 was the warmest on record in the US I don't think any would object to publishing the customary Summer wine post a bit early.  I don't know about you but I really couldn't wait to start drinking some white wines to try to stay cool in this early on-set heat.  I'm also starting to store my everyday reds in the fridge before serving so as not to experience too much of that internal warming sensation in my mouth since I'm already roasting externally in the summer-like temperatures.  


The first wine that I picked up was the most recent vintage of Domaine Lefage Vin De Pays des Cotes Catalanes Cote Est (Languedoc Roussillon, France).  This is a blend of White Grenache, Chardonnay & Marsanne from the interesting southern part of France that borders the northeastern tip of Spain.  The Languedoc Roussillon region of France has an interesting collection of grapes and some very good values.  I enjoyed the Cote Est.  It had good weight, noticeable floral elements and a good amount of acidity.  For $10 I thought it was a good wine.


The second wine was the 2010 Regis Minet Pouilly Fume VV (Loire, France).  This Sauvingnon Blanc was a nice alternative to the New Zealand SBs (which I enjoy) with a some chalkiness and a less amount of acidity that lead to a seamless, enjoyable transition from beginning to the finish.  This wine would pair very well with most kinds of shellfish and seafood that were prepared in a simple manner, e.g., raw, lemon/butter sauce, etc.  This wine was a bit more expensive at $17 but I would still rate it a good value, which would be an even better value if enjoyed with the right food.


Both of these wines were purchased at the Wine Warehouse, which is recently under (mostly) new ownership (Bob Gorman).