Greener is better ?

Why should we drink organic wine? That's a good question.

This week lot of media talks about that, all start with a TV reportage from a Swiss TV channel and then different newspaper start to talk about chemical in the wine.

For me organic and even natural wines are important and they’re sometimes better than a wine made with chemical from the same appellation. But don’t go to the extreme, I try wine label as “natural” who doesn’t taste like wine. I’ve seen many wines without sulfite going back in fermentation. Sometimes when you want to make to natural it doesn’t look natural. It’s good for our future, for our health to make and drink wine made with less chemical but I think the first goal a winemaker have to think about It’s to give pleasure to the consumer. And when I drink a fizzy wine that is not supposed to be fizzy or a wine with a “brett” smell and taste, I don’t have any pleasure.

The wine I present today are made in organic way and sometimes Biodynamic but they don’t go to the extreme, that’s why I like them.

Monthelie 2006, Pierre Morey

He’s working in Biodynamic culture since 1998? And you can feel in the wine it gives something better. Burgundy vineyard is so diverse that it needs that kind of attention to be really reflected in the wine. In this one, the nose is pure fragrance of pinot noir, black cherry, leather and a bit of spice. The palate is smooth, very delicate and elegant. Tannins are present but not too much, just here to give a kick. The ending is fresh and got good lasting.

Rasteau Tradition 2006, Domaine du Trapadis

Nothing is writing on the label, no AB logo, no Biodynamic logo but Helen Durand the producer is working on both type of culture. He still working the soil with is soil and spend lot of time in the vineyard. The wine is simply beautiful, with a big proportion of Grenache it develop aromas of red fruit jam (raspberry, bilberry). The taste is delicate you find the same aromas as the nose; tannins are elegant and round but persistent. A very pleasant and “gourmand” wine.

Château La Grolet Tradition 2008, Côtes de Bourg

It’s very difficult to find a good Bordeaux Bio, this one it’s maybe not the best Bordeaux you can find but its Bio and Biodynamic and it’s good. With 80 % of Merlot the wine is quite flattering, a good expression of fruit on the nose (blackcurrant, ripe plum) and licorice. The palate is deep, intense spice and plum are mix and because is quite young tannins are a bit strong but give it 4 years and it’s gone a be a bomb with hint of cacao and leather.

Serious hills for Serious wines : Côte Rôtie and Condrieu

By a beautiful summer day I went on a trip in the north of Rhone Valley. And more specifically in Côte-Rôtie and is neighbor in white Condrieu.

It’s one of the most beautiful vineyards I’ve seen for the moment. The Rhône dig a deep valley a long time ago and now on his right bank you can found one of the most prestigious vineyard, characterized by the very steep hill. Those hills full of vine, remember me sometimes the Valais Vineyard in Switzerland but with a warmer climate.

Here you can see and feel that no machine can work on those vines. All agricultural work has to be done by hand. Does this give a better wine ? I don’t know but I’m sure it helps. Soil are less tamp down so vine roots can breathe better and much more care is give to the grape because of the hand work. Syrah and Viognier are resident from this area, both of them are present in the Côte Rôtie appellation and Viognier is the king of Condrieu.

That’s it for the tourist part. Now, let’s talk about the serious thing: The Wine !!

AOC Côte-Rôtie “Frucus Voluptas” 2007 Domaine Jamet
The color is deep purple like ink. On the nose, it’s an explosion of flavor: black fruit (bilberry and blackberry) with a hint of pepper maybe black and green pepper exactly. When you put that wine in your mouth, it fill your mouth with it intensity, still the fruity aromas but it’s deeper and last for long.

AOC Condrieu Côteaux du Vernon 2008 Domaine Georges Vernay
A very pale yellow dress. The nose is typical from the wine of Condrieu, limetree and honeysuckle fragrance white peach at the end. Then the palate is smooth, round and a big mineral taste is present. It gives freshness and balance to the wine. The final is very persistent.

The Top 10 Wine of summer 2010

I’m back now, I’m sorry for the long time without post but I was focus on another project and I had some holiday as well.
So summer is ending soon, we still have some good day coming in front of us but I think it’s time to do a little review of this past summer. What did you drink the much and what kind of wine did you enjoy.
For my part I will made a top ten of my personal drinks from this summer. Of course they’re summer drinks but I’m sure you can still enjoy those one during the autumn coming.

N°1 : Rosé Corail 2009 Château de Roquefort
AOC Côtes de Provence
I’m not so rosé but those kind of wine made the perfect match for a very hot summer. This one from a very nice property situated close to Marseille. Here the grapes is well treat, they work in organic farming. Rosé from Grenache with is typical aromas of fresh red fruit, it’s so refreshing that you keep asking for more.

N°2 : Beaulieu 2006 Château de La Selve
VDP Coteaux de l’Ardèche
This red wine from Ardèche is a cabernet base and some Bordeaux should take example on it. The winemaker shows us how to sublime this grape variety in picking ripe fruit and without new oak. The typical aromas of cabernet (blackcurrant) are rich and persistent. The pate is velvety and long, a perfect match for red meat on a barbecue

N°3: Triple Zero Jacky Blot
AOC Vouvray NV
Made with no added sugar from the beginning to the end. This nice sparkling wine is perfect for late aperitif on the terrace. Citrus aromas and honeysuckle comes from the nose. Then it’s an explosion of texture very smooth with small bubble. It can easily replace Champagne.

N°4 : Chardonnay Classic 2009 Domaine des Terres Dorées
AOC Beaujolais Blanc
How to make a new world chardonnay in the old world? Jean Paul Brun found the answer with is Beaujolais Blanc, its round with peach and pineapple flavor. To drink until the end of the night!!!

N°5 : Paul 2007 Domaine Saladin
AOC Côtes du Rhône
A nice cuvee made from an old parcel of Grenache, on the nose it’s an explosion red fruit jam, the palate is pleasant not to heavy but present. Nice with some grill chicken.

N°6 : Pineau des Charentes
From any producer, just because I come from the area where is made and for me it’s the perfect match for an after beach aperitif. A refreshing brewage without any pretention.

N°7 : Paradis Originels 2009 Terroirs Originels
AOC Beaujolais Villages
Made from Gamay à petit grains, hand harvesting and vinified with elegance. It’s a perfect match for summer salad and grilled vegetable. The nose is like a red fruit pot with some rose flowers aroma. The palate follow the rest, light elegant and a nice refreshing minerality at the end.

N°8 : Magalie Rosé 2009 Domaine Saint André de Figuière
AOC Cotes de Provence
It’s maybe the rosé I drink the much this summer, so it have to be in my Top 10. It’s a typical Provence rosé with this hint of vine peach and citrus. This wine is so easy to drink that it should prohibit. Another pearl from Provence.

N°9 : Champagne Comtes Hughes de la Bourdonnaye Carte Noire
A list somebody who care in champagne, he work well and the wine he made from a large amount of Pinot Meunier are without sulfite and no “dosage”. It does simply reflect a pure expression of champagne, tiny bubble and aromas of yeast. Then it last for long and live your palate refresh.

N°10 : Miss Vicky Wine Fleurie 2007
Just because she is a friend of mine and I taste her wine recently. And I was agreeably surprise. This wine is elegant and very well made, rose’s aromas and ripe red fruit, palate is smooth and last for long.