Chateau Larose Perganson

Posted on May 18, 2017 by melsmosaic

It was one of those beautiful nights in DC recently and I just wanted to sit on my deck and enjoy a nice dinner and red wine. So I picked through my wine rack and pulled out one that looked good. It was a French wine, but I know I didn’t buy it in France directly because of some of the notes on the label. It was the Chateau Larose Perganson 2009 Haut Médoc Cru Bourgeois.

Opened it and poured some in my glass with the aerator. WOW. Why have I waited so long to open this?

Per the site, its tasting notes are:

Intense ruby color with violet hues. The nose is quite powerful, a true symphony of spices: milk caramel and vanilla, of jammy fruits: ripe plums, black currants, blackberries, as well as aromas of roasted coffee, toasted bread and dark chocolate. Perfect roundness from a combination of opulent fruit and good oak ageing which provide superb balance and complexity. 100% cold pre-fermentary maceration. A fabulous wine! Please decant two hours before tasting.

My comments:

Smooth and then smooth. It was creamy and just slid through your mouth. Fruit and chocolate.

I had to figure out where I bought this because I’m not sure how long I’d had it. After much research, I found it at Rodman’s (in NW DC). It’s about $25/bottle. Can’t go wrong with Rodman’s. And, will definitely be picking up some more.

A Year in Champagne

Posted on July 28, 2015 by melsmosaic

Sometimes you can catch great movies on the plane. I recently had the pleasure of watching A Year in Champagne, a documentary about the ins and outs of champagne making. It followed several champagne producers and shows how difficult of an industry it is for us to be able to enjoy this bubbly liquid.

Producers/vintners have code to follow, tough seasons, some have small shops (and even crops), but all have one goal — to deliver a delectable bottle with a cork that pops and a liquid we enjoy. It was also wonderful to see how there are still the small family-owned businesses working against the big corporate ones. There is a lot of behind the scenes work and business that happens, from sales to chemistry to timing and more. A quality line in the movie and one or my favorites, perfect for the industry was along the lines of ‘Don’t trust anyone who doesn’t drink.’

Some of the greatest highlights:

-one vintner has 750,000 (yes 3/4 million) bottles they turn by hand (frequently) over the course of a year to deliver the best taste

-vines are restricted to a certain height, otherwise licenses can be revoked

-they have a specific/allocated amount of time in which they can harvest, otherwise licenses can be revoked

(image source: ayearinchampagne.com)

Bordeaux Walking Tour

Posted on July 8, 2015 by melsmosaic

While exploring France had to determine the best way to explore what was at my fingertips. Was referred by a friend to a great way to explore the city of Bordeaux and of course enjoy their great drink — Bordeaux Walking Tours. I enjoyed an afternoon exploration of the city.

Got to see the city on foot and learn about historic sites along the water and throughout the town.

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Then we visited the Wine & Trade Museum.

At the end of this visit, we got to taste several French wines. We received the full rundown on history, varietal, region, etc.

(Chateau LaJarre was definitely my favorite)

After this great tasting we headed off to our next stop after learning much about wine at the museum. During our tour we learned about the Bordeaux region and how the Gironde River determines a lot of the ‘taste’ of the grapes — earthy vs fruity. Those on the Right Bank of the river tend to be fruitier, those on the Left Bank tend to be earthier.

(photo credit: totalwine.com)

Turns out our next stop was a blind tasting to apply what we learned about the banks.

I got 2 out of 3 right, and mostly only loved one of them, the Chateau Bardin, from the Right Side. This was such a fun way to learn more about wine and I did learn that old world wine really isn’t that bad. I can expand my horizons beyond new world.

Ahhh, Nicoise

Posted on June 17, 2015 by melsmosaic

One of my favorite salads is a Salade Nicoise. And oddly, it was not that easy to find in France. Come on, that’s where it’s from! But on my last night in Bordeaux, I checked out the menu at a place that had caught my eye because of the cool decor around it — all sorts of neat animals — Michel’s. They don’t have a website so the best you can do google them at Michel’s, Bordeaux to get additional info. You can find lots of stuff.

I obviously checked it out/decided to eat there since I am writing this post, because they had a great Nicoise on the menu. Absolutely perfect! Could not have asked for better.

Some steak tartare was also enjoyed at the table, which also wasn’t seen all that much.

Wine was consumed as well, but there was various glasses so I could not easily snap of shot of the label. They were packed and short staffed so could not easily ask to see the label proper.

Great way to wrap that part of the trip.

Sangria…en France

Posted on June 5, 2015 by melsmosaic

France doesn’t have to mean just (straight) wine. When you’re in SW France you can mix some stuff in it. When in Dax, since it’s so close to Spain, I saw a good amount of sangria on menus. So, of course had to give it a try. Stopped by Cafe de Bordeaux.

Ahh…delicious.

What was even better? The price! Think a very healthy half bottle of wine.

While sipping the sangria, enjoyed looking at this great fountain. Later touched the water…naturally very warm. Pretty interesting.

Dax Farmer’s Market

Posted on June 4, 2015 by melsmosaic

I have been off the blogging scene recently because of an oh-so-rough trip to Ireland and France. I am now starting to recap said vacation…

One of the best parts of the trip was why I went — for a friend’s wedding in SW France, in a small town named Dax. It’s about a 90 minute drive from Bordeaux.

My friend’s fiance had told me about the must-do the morning of the wedding, the local farmer’s market. It ended up being about 2 blocks from the hotel. WOW. The place was making Pike Place look weak on some levels. Some 3+ hours later we returned to the hotel with lunch to enjoy outside. I grabbed Paella, as this town is close to Spain so they get some of their influence. Others grabbed cheese and sausage, bread, veggies, some had nice flatbread-like pizza. And, of course, wine!

Almost too good to be true.

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Saturday Wine Tasting

Posted on March 4, 2014 by melsmosaic

I checked out a great wine tasting on Saturday and some of the wines made it home — can never go wrong with that. It was at Wine Cellars of Annapolis and the theme/title was Value Imports from Vintus Wines. We suffered through 3 whites and 3 reds from a total of 4 countries.

2012 Talmard Macon-Chardonnay, Burgundy, France

Per the cheat sheet: Gerald and Philbert Talmard are a father son team carrying on a four century family tradition of grape growing in the French village of Chardonnay, believed to have given the grape its name. The vines are planted in calcareous soil, which provides the wine with a particular mineral characteristic along with fruity aromas. This wine is luscious, showing scents and flavor of butterscotch, honey and lemon with a distinct mineral taste on the finish. $14.99

My notes: Dry Chard (score!), with some butter at the end. Unique in the sense that you wonder how it’s a Chard then voila! There it is right at the finish.

2010 Domaine Des Baumard Savennieres, Loire Valley, France (if you want to check out their true site, here it is, in French obviously — www.baumard.fr)

Per the cheat sheet: “This is perfectly balanced dry Chenin. It had just the amount of richness, aided by a touch of vanilla. The green and white fruit are blended with deceptively soft acidity to give a wine that feels full and ripe in the mouth. Good to drink now, but also worth aging 3-4 years and more.” 93 points Wine Enthusiast $26.99

My notes: Too sweet for me.

2013 Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand

Per the cheat sheet: “This is powerful and rich with a reserve and tension. Full and layered with beautiful dried fruits and a bright acidity. Dried apricots and lemons. Lots going on. Loving it. Turns to aniseed and dried lemons.” – James Suckling $22.99

My notes: AMAZING smell — grapefruit, mango. But, the taste doesn’t match the nose.

2011 Tommasi Valpolicella “Rafael”, Veneto, Italy

60% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella, 15% Molinara

Per the cheat sheet: This classic Valpolicella is full of dried-cherry flavor with a hint of smoke and grilled meat on the nose. Offering loads of bold fresh cherries on the palate and a core of mouth-watering acidity in the background behind all the bright cherry fruit. Tart dried cherries and a whiff of smoke linger in a long finish. $16.99

My notes: Cherry, smooth, light but still has body, cranberry. Big stars on my piece of paper. Left with a few bottles — and enjoyed it 1while watching the Red Carpet and Oscars on Sunday.

2010 Heartland Shiraz, Langhorne Creek, Limestone Coast, Australia

Made by star winemaker Ben Glaetzer, this deliciously dark and rich Shiraz has hints of chocolate, pepper and tobacco leaf on the nose. Plums, blackcurrant and spice flavors abound on the palate and are perfectly balanced by fine supple tannins. $19.99

My notes: Coffee, smoke, amazing, light acid taste, will get some soon.

2009 Chatean Lyonnat Lussac Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France

Per the cheat sheet: “Firm, richly dark wine from the Saint-Emilion satellite village of Lassac, with chocolate and coffee flavor, layers of wood and spice. It is packed with ripe plum and black cherry fruits, weighty and already concentrated.” 90 Points Wine Enthusiast $24.99

My notes: Light wine, taste of ‘wet rocks’ — we know exactly what those taste like, right? So funny who we know the taste of random things.

Overall, some great new finds!

Annual Champagne Expo

Posted on December 17, 2013 by melsmosaic

Last year I accidentally found out about an annual champagne event that takes place at a wine/liquor store in DC when I was just walking by the store. It’s Magruder’s Annual Champagne Expo that features 15-20 bubblies for you to sample/taste/enjoy/leave with or without. People call in advance to find out when this event takes place, bring their own glasses, and have quite the afternoon.

This year there were five table and a total of 18 champagnes. When you walk in, you get your tasting card for the vendors to mark and you’re off!

Table 1

Trouillard Brut — creamy

Roland Champion Aramis — ‘chunkier,’ earthy, mineral, (ugh)

Roland Champion Grand Cru Brut — softer

Roland Champion Grand Cru Rose — unique, nice

Table 2

Perrier-Jouet Brut — apple, citrus, light, crisp (on sale for $32.99 — I know this because I left with a bottle). The box is great! White case.

Mumm Cordon Rouge — less fun

Nicolas Feuillatte Brut — marginal

Domaine Carneros Brut — NICE (on sale for $22.99 — yes, proud owner)

Table 3

Laurent-Perrier Brut — smooth yet sharp, bottled 3 years

Delamotte Brut — chardonnay, good, but not great

Schramsbert Blanc de Blanc — sweet, Napa

Table 4

Andre Clouet Brut Rose — NO!

Voirin Jumel Blanc de Blanc Cramant — unique, nice, 100% Chardonnay

Andre Clouet Grand Reserve Brut — GREAT! #1

Chapuy Grand Cru Blanc de Blanc — 100% Chardonnay, ugh (keep in mind these are my own tastes)

Table 5

Ruinart Blanc de Blanc — ok

Ruinart Rose — smooth, perfect, if only it wasn’t (on sale for) $79

Pommery Brut — high carbonation, true champagne

So come the end, the taste buds were happy and overwhelmed, I left with two amazing bottles and learned more about many bubblies. Until next year.

International Pinot Noir Tasting

Posted on November 29, 2013 by melsmosaic

For Thanksgiving we opted to do an international Pinot Noir tasting. Since the varietal is one that has been rumored to pair well with turkey, we thought it would be fun to see how different country’s respective grapes compared. We went for three continents — get everybody to join the party!

Hob Nob, 2011, Languedoc, France: Smooth, oh so smooth. I could taste chocolate. Not a great pairing for turkey, but we took one for the team and still enjoyed it! Hand me some chocolate covered pretzels and this wine…oh yes! Very reasonable — about $10-$12.

Nobilo Icon, 2012, Marlborough, New Zealand: More acidic than Hob Nob, much better pairing for turkey, traditional Pinot taste. I say that as nothing jumped out about it but still very nice. About $15.

Schug, 2010, Carneros, California: Same as above…more acidic than Hob Nob, much better pairing for turkey. Taste of cherries then a bit of smoke at end. About $17-$20.

Definitely a fun element to add to Thanksgiving dinner and it was great listening to all the comments at the table on people’s specific tastes, likes, distinctions, characteristics they took from each wine. Go Pinot!