It is typical of French Wine to have a taste of
the French earth in every sip. This flavour which comes through in
earthiness and minerality is referred to as "terroir". It is the main
distinguishing feature between Old World and New World style wines.
This glass was an interesting specimen for Muscadet. There was a nice
presence of earth- hints of wet stones and flint which come from the
granite and limestone which make up much
of the Loire Valley. That earthines was also balanced by a fair amount
of fruit, mostly green apple and grapefruit, and vibrant acidity. Not
much of a finish, but that's OK because it is a great wine to pair with
food.
Overall, not bad as a stand alone wine, but excellent to pair with most seafood- Fish, shellfish and sushi.
2009 Sauvion, Muscadet Sur Lie, Loire Valley- France. The "Sur Lie"
designation means that the wine was aged on it's dead yeast cells, a
process which adds body and complexity to the wine.
At Rouge et Blanc Wine Bar, Downtown San Fransisco.
2010 Casas Del Bosque, Carmenere. This lost
grape of Bordeaux is quickly becoming one of my favourites. It has a
nice sweet smell that reminds me of kettle corn and coffee, but imparts a
rich cherry flavour with a hint of spice and a dry, tobacco finish. No
need to wait as this soft red is ready to drink young. Cheers!
At InnerFog, San Fransisco.
2009 Domains D'Aupilhac Carignan- It smelled
like roses in an old wooden cellar. Green grass notes right off the bat,
with some nice tart cherries and ample red fruit. Overall, a fairly
thin and easy drinking wine with a short finish. I paired it with a
plate of Burgundian Escargot. Bon Appetit!
At RN74, San Fransisco.
