Category: Uncategorized

“Lalande-Pomerol is a jewel of Bordeaux’s Right Bank, a rich and deep wine of great finesse.” – James Suckling, American wine critic.

This is a pure Merlot, from a richly diverse terroir of sandy and gravelly soils. The vineyard is planted mainly with Merlot (80 to 85%), the rest being Cabernet Franc.

Let’s taste it:

A balanced robe, a flamboyant red with lovely chocolatey edges.

A powerful nose, and that complex aroma of damp wood reminds me of long walks out in nature. It quickly comes back to remind you to watch out for those 14.5%.

A discreet length, but one that wakes up and slowly asserts itself after it has passed.

The balanced taste is nonetheless very particular. It may not please everyone, because it’s flat at the start, like a hollow — a dead moment in the script of the aromas — and it struggles to assert its character; then a touch of acidity soon appears.

That sharpness, a little too present at the start to my mind, later leaves a long (very long) and pleasant taste. That’s what I liked about this wine: the length and the persistence of the tannins. My palate is still full of it as I write this article.

This 2020 did suffer from its youth, though, giving off a nose marked by the alcohol that limits its expression. So you’ll have to wait a little longer to enjoy it fully and see Lalande at its best.

“The wines of Schengen bear witness to the history and passion of Luxembourg’s winegrowers — elegant, refined wines that deserve to be discovered.” – Bettane & Desseauve

Considered one of the most renowned terroirs of the Luxembourg Moselle, the majestic Felsberg hill makes for a lovely day out.

It overlooks Wintrange, a small winegrowing village of 400 souls not far from Schengen. It’s here, on the slopes of the Felsberg, that Frank Schumacher tends the vine.

I had the chance to take part in an open day at the property, offering every enthusiast a memorable tasting. In the company of friends, I had the privilege of discovering a rich (very rich) catalogue, full of little gems. Like its wines, the place is beautiful and pleasant, well suited to tasting:

I’m telling you here about the Pinot Blanc, but other references will be added to the tastings soon. The catalogue of wines produced by this family impressed me. Impressed, because I’m not used to seeing this: I counted more than 60 references available on the list, all produced locally by this family. Granted, several vintages help fill out the catalogue — but even so, it isn’t common to produce that much with so few people.

During this tasting I was able to try a good number of wines, and all were good, some of them very good.

Here’s the link to the cellar, with a shop for ordering too — see for yourself…: https://www.schumacher-knepper.lu/index.php/fr/

On to the tasting:

Naturally you’ll need to chill it a little before tasting. Unlike its cousin the Pinot Gris, this Pinot Blanc is a touch drier — yet this white will upend that assumption, and you’ll sense it right from the start with its fruity nose.

On the palate it’s extraordinarily balanced and soft; very fruity, you’ll barely detect the touch of acidity at the end. Length isn’t its strong point, though — which rather invites you to pour another straight away.

Personally (and I’m not the only one), I love it with cheese or as an aperitif — which is why my cellar will never be without it again.

The English-style wine bar:

The rain came along to disrupt this visit, unfortunately making the cellars (see photo above) inaccessible because of roadworks in the street.

I do recommend the place: the cellar oozes authenticity in the way only the English know how. The wine we chose and what came with it made for a thoroughly pleasant moment — the presence of friends had a lot to do with it, since London rain is inseparable from the myth!

I wanted to try a Rioja again, to confirm that this appellation is consistent in its quality. So we tasted a Real Rubio Gran Reserva 2010.

A nose of vanilla and wood, a palate of lovely red fruit with powerful but balanced tannins.

A supple, persistent length lifted by a touch of acidity that quickly fades to make way for the fruit.

We enjoyed the wine, even if some of my friends found the tannins too strong.

I’ll add one small reservation about the venue, though. Its authenticity is beyond question, and the wine list is rich, carefully put together and affordable. Look closely at that list, however, and you’ll be a little disappointed by the lack of local wines — indeed, among more than 100 listings I found only a single English wine! And yes, there are wines Made in Britain! A few nice articles on the subject:

https://avis-vin.lefigaro.fr/magazine-vin/o30370-la-voie-royale-des-vins-anglais

http://www.le-vin-pour-les-nuls.com/six-vins-anglais/

I’ll also share a nice article about the place:

A couple of our favorite evenings have been spent in London’s oldest wine bar. We have been twice with friends and family, and each time has lead to …

Sipping wine in an old London cellar

“Côtes du Rhône is the south in a glass, the garrigue in a nose, the sun in a colour, conviviality in a taste.” – Bernard Pivot

I know what you’re going to say: “an article about a Côtes du Rhône”!

And there it is, the magic of preconceptions at work — but you should be starting to know that every appellation in the world has its gem.

This wine doesn’t come from just anyone: the E. Guigal house! As you’ll see, this house will be a regular in these posts.

Fancy a red for the aperitif? To go with a dish, a meat, a quiche, a cheese? It’s my go-anywhere wine; it accompanies all my little preparations, eyes closed.

E. Guigal’s Côtes du Rhône is a blend of several grape varieties, including Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre.

A dark but very balanced robe; right from the start the spices come and tickle your nose. This lovely wine makes eyes at you and invites you to taste.

On the palate, as on the nose, the spices are quickly present but soon make way for a second aroma of red fruit — though they don’t go far, because through the length they’ll come back to remind you they’re there.

At a price under €10, this wine is a classic you absolutely must own.

Nothing like a nice little white for Valentine’s Day.

Pinot Gris is a great local pride for Alsace, but I’m interested in another region where “Pinot Gris”, “Pinot Blanc” and the likes of “Riesling” or “Gewurztraminer” reign supreme: Schengen and the Luxembourg Moselle.

Schengen, Schengen? That must ring a bell, no?

A little history, but no Schengen:

The Caves Saint Martin are a winegrowing cooperative located in Remich, a small town on the banks of the Moselle, in eastern Luxembourg. Founded in 1919, the cooperative aims to promote winegrowing and the production of high-quality wine in the region.

The Caves Saint Martin also have a historic cellar dating from 1872. This cellar was built by the Benedictine monks of the Saint-Maurice abbey, in Switzerland, who stored their wine there for many years. You can visit it while listening to stories from the past, glass in hand.

On to the tasting:

Naturally, there’s no need to tell you that an hour or so in the fridge before serving will make it all the more pleasant.

The colour of this Pinot Gris is a crystalline white, of a hypnotic purity — you feel you’re admiring mountain water!

The nose is light and balanced, almost mineral; you start to think this Pinot Gris is more akin to a dry variety.

On the palate, citrus and a light acidity come first, then a slight prickle appears on the palate — you’d swear you detect tiny bubbles — but very quickly the fruit and the citrus emerge. Its length turns refreshing.

I particularly enjoyed this wine with cheese; the pairing lifted both partners.

At a price of around €10, the value for money is unbeatable — especially if you take the opportunity to tour the cellars.