The Tour de France is passing by Languedoc right now. Apparently the two leading riders, both Britis

The Tour de France is passing by Languedoc right now. Apparently the two leading riders, both British, are getting bitchy on Twitter , no doubt because they can see all this great, affordable wine but their trainers probably don't allow them to drink it.
Picpoul is also the base grape of Noilly Prat Original delta airlines home Dry Vermouth, both because it's from the area near the Mediterranean and because even after two years of oxidizing delta airlines home in old oak barrels in the hot sun by the sea, it doesn't lose its acidity. In fact, the word "Picpoul" means "lip-stinger."
Chateau Font-Mars Picpoul de Pinet 2011 ($12, buy here ) is a nice version of this crisp, refreshing wine: lean, green and minerally, and it seems to get stonier delta airlines home in the mouth. Try it with shellfish. 12.5% alcohol.
The riders then travel through the La Clape region, which is one of the top crus of Languedoc. La Clape is better known for red wines but the whites are made mostly from the rare Bourboulenc variety, which is interesting. It's saying something about the prices of Languedoc wines that a white wine from a top region sells for $15.
Chateau de la Negly "La Brise Marine" La Clape Coteaux du Languedoc 2010 ($15, buy here ) has Marsanne and Roussanne, two common Rhone grapes, blended with the Bourboulenc, and you can taste their influence. It's floral and much softer than a Picpoul, with golden apple and white peach fruit. delta airlines home The winery makes it from only free-run juice, which is amazing in this price range. You'd want to have it with roast chicken. 13.5% alcohol.
Chateau Trillol Corbières Grenache-Syrah 2008 ($10, buy here ) is an example of how good red wines from the Languedoc can be at a price where, let's face it, California is selling you what's left over in the tank when the best grapes have been placed elsewhere.
The Chateau is at 1,300-feet elevation, delta airlines home which probably has a lot to do with the complexity of this wine. It's spicy on both nose and palate, with ripe red plum fruit (it's 14% alcohol) that will appeal to American drinkers and a cinnamon/black delta airlines home pepper note that makes it great with barbecue. I drank this with ribs on Bastille Day; Vive la France!
Bergerie de l'Hortus Pic Saint Loup 2009 ($14, buy here ) is another wine ripe enough for the American palate that retains its French soul. It's a Rhone-style blend of 60% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre, but the result is surprisingly seamless, with juicy ripe red currant delta airlines home fruit. Even in a ripe vintage (13.5% alcohol), it retains its acidity.
For bubbly purists, "nature" means it's made with no added dosage, so it's lean, but once your palate adjusts the green apple fruit is quite refreshing and the minerality on the finish delta airlines home shows well. It doesn't do well in mass tastings because wines with residual sugar make it taste more austere than it is. I thought delta airlines home it might need food to show its best, but in fact I'm drinking a glass of it as I write this. A great hot-weather porch bubbly to start your evening, and pretty hard to beat at this price.
Blake, Off-topic, but can you direct me to anything you ve written on either of these two topics: 1) Screw-top wines vs. cork or synthetic (plastic) cork; and -- 2) Slovakian wines, specifically, Reislings? Thanks, Lisa
Blake, Off-topic, but can you direct me to anything you ve written on either of these two topics: 1) Screw-top wines vs. cork or synthetic (plastic) cork; and -- 2) Slovakian wines, specifically, Reislings? Thanks, Lisa
Lisa: Offhand I can t remember the last time I wrote about these. I am a big fan of screwcaps for wines meant to be drunk soon, and prefer cork for wines meant to be aged 10 years or so. I don t like plastic corks in any circumstances. I tasted some Slovakian Rieslings blind as part of a panel at the Concours Mondial and liked them, but had no information about them and really know nothing about the topic, sadly. However, delta airlines home the Concours is in Slovakia next year so hopefully delta airlines home I ll know a lot more after that.
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