Domaine Pinchot Vouvray Le Peu de la Moriette (2014) Wine Review

Floral, if you’ve never tried a floral wine, I wish you would. It’s something you have to experience to really grasp, but once you do, you’ll “get it” and if you’re like me you’ll enjoy it from time to time. The Chenin Blanc varietal is a wonderful example. Today’s Wine Wednesday feature, the 2014 Domaine Pinchot Vouvray Le Peu de la Moriette is from the Vouvray (Voo-VRAE) sub-region in the Loire Valley region of France where the primary varietal grown is Chenin Blanc. Thus, a wine labeled as Vouvray is most definitely Chenin Blanc and from this particular region. The grape is widely cultivated in growing regions across the world, but here, they made it famous or perhaps it's the other way around.

If you prefer sweet wines and haven’t tried Vouvray, you may discover a new love. Vouvray comes in many styles ranging from sec (dry) to moelleux (sweet) to even pétillant (sparkling). The Domaine Pinchot Vouvray Le Peu de la Moriette in my opinion is more of a tendre (off-dry) slightly sweet.  On the nose were hints of pear, honey, citrus (lime) and yes, those floral notes. It had a wonderful slightly silky mouth feel with more than a tease of sweetness on the palate followed by an assertive crisp acidity. If you are new to Vouvray look for a demi-sec (semi-sweet) for your first experience and then venture into your preferred direction but you may find you’re right where you want to be with the demi-sec.

For food pairing try Salmon with Dill Sauce or Salpicao (Brazilian Chicken Salad) To print or save the recipes, click the links below. 

Salmon with Dill Sauce

Salpicao (Brazilian Chicken Salad)

2010 Chateau Arnaud Bordeaux Supérieur

Because I tend to have an affinity for blends, it would only seem natural that my curiosity for wine would ultimately gravitate toward Bordeaux – perhaps it should have started there. So for the second week in a row, I'll share a Bordeaux. Bordeaux wines after all, for the most part, are inherently blends either red or white.  Red Bordeaux are generally either predominantly Merlot or predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon.  Those that are predominantly Merlot are considered “right bank” and those predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon are considered “left bank”. 

The main river in Bordeaux is the Gironde.  Two smaller rivers, the Dordogne and the Garonne, feed into it. Together, the rivers are shaped almost like an upside-down Y. If you're standing in Bordeaux facing west, toward the ocean, the "Left Bank" is south of the Garonne and Gironde rivers, and the "Right Bank" is north of the Dordogne and Gironde Rivers. (The area in between is known as Entre-Deux-Mers.)

The left bank vineyards are dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon and the right by Merlot. It should be mentioned that other varietals that can be added to red Bordeaux wines in addition to Cabermet Sauvigon and Merlot are Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

This week’s Wine Wednesday feature the 2010 Chateau Arnaud Bordeaux Supérieur is an example of a red, right bank Bordeaux, predominantly Merlot (70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc). How can you tell by looking at the bottle if it’s right or left bank?  Well, you sort of need to know the region. On the back of the bottle it indicates this wine is from Saint - Émilion an AOC in the Bordeaux region, which is right bank, thus likely this wine is predominantly Merlot.

On the nose - blackberry, violet and a hint of spice. On the palate, raspberry, moderate tannins (right bank are usually less tannic than left bank Bordeaux wines) and a touch of cocoa on the lingering finish.  We enjoyed this with Jambalaya one night and with Grilled Lamb Chops over Wild Mushroom Couscous and sides of Grilled Marinated Portobello and Asparagus the next. 

To print or save the recipe pairing suggestions click the links below.

Jambalaya

Grilled Lamb Chops

2014 Belle Glos Oeil de Perdrix Pinot Noir Blanc Wine Review

From the vine to the wine. This week’s Wine Wednesday feature is steeped in family history.  It’s a story of the Wagner family spanning five generations who privately own and produce many familiar and popular labels such as Caymus, Conundrum, Meiomi and also Belle Glos (pronounced bell gloss and named after winemaker Joseph Wagner’s Grandmother Lorna Belle Glos Wagner). The Wagner family farms their own vineyards thus overseeing the quality from start to finish.

Winemaker Joseph Wagner is well known for his Pinot Noirs – Meiomi and Belle Glos. The 2014 Belle Glos Oeil de Perdrix (French for eye of the partridge which refers to its jewel like color) is a Pinot Noir Blanc from Sonoma County.

A Pinot Noir Blanc is made from Pinot Noir Grapes.  Pinot Noir grapes produce clear juice and the red color of Pinot Noir comes from the skins.  In a Pinot Noir Blanc the juice is exposed to the skins for a shorter amount of time.

On the nose I enjoyed hints of strawberry and orange but actually what struck me as dreamsicle and a slight minerality. It’s a light bodied dry wine with a pleasant concentration of fruit on the palate. Serve this wine well chilled 45°- 50°F. It’s a great summer wine by itself.  We enjoyed this with Seared Sea Scallops and I think it would pair wonderfully with a Lobster BLT Salad.  To print or save my recipe pairing suggestions, click the links below.

Pan Seared Sea Scallops

 Lobster BLT Salad