Let the sunshin in !!

Winter is there, he was here few months ago already but now is the middle and everything is bad, weather, temperature and people (sometimes). Few weeks left and spring is back, this remember me how times go fast. With this very grey atmosphere we need sun; we can’t found it in the sky so we have to go find it in our glass. So, what a better way than a selection of wine from the south of France and south of Europe to find what we need. In those countries sun is shining all year long and you can feel this in the wine.

Let’s start our tour :

Riberach Hypothèse Blanc 2008, IGP Côtes Catalanes

This wine is made from Carignan Gris a white mutation of the classic Carignan. Very rare and difficult to grow this grape produce very aromatic white wine. This one made from old vine, have typical aniseed and citrus aromas, in mouth its persistent and citrus aromas are also present with a very mineral finish on chalk and flint.

Domaine de Blanes Muscat Sec 2010, Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes

I’ve got a passion for dry Muscat, I found those kinds of wines a perfect drink for spring aperitif and summer afternoon tea. Domaine de Blanes made for me one of the best Muscat Sec I try, the nose it’s typical with fresh grape, litchi and rose aromas. The palate is elegant round not to heavy and sometimes Muscat Sec lack of freshness but not this one.

Château Grand Moulin Vieilles Vignes 2005, AOC Corbières

Here we talk about a real Wine, a wine for food. Made mostly from Syrah and Grenache, this wine looks like black ink with orange reflect. On the nose the wine seems very ripe it’s between jammy red fruit and smoke, very animal nearly fresh blood. Full bodied on the mouth but not over extract or heavy, the wine fill your palate with tobacco, leather and meaty aromas. Tannins still silky and finish is just as long as a Cameron Movie.

Venus La Universal 2006
DO Montsant

La Universal is a small wine estate own in join venture by Rene Barbier from Clos Mogador and Sra Perez his wife. The estate is situated in an area call Montsant a neighbour of Priorat. In this DO the king of grape is Carignan or Cariñena, far away from the fashionable way of making wine and putting Carignan in all the sauces like in Languedoc Roussillon. Here the old vines of this typical Spanish grape are evolving in very strong condition from very high to low temperature and altitude.  A limestone and granitic soil give to the wine power, complexity and delicacy. The wine of La Universal and particularly Venus are a perfect reflect of this “terroir” more delicate than a Priorat, Venus on the nose release smoky and spicy flavour, the mouth is the continuity with the same aromas and a kind of aromatic herbs taste. The wine is perfectly balance, silky and round.