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Four from France

2011 Touraine Millesime Sauvignon Blanc from The Loire Valley by Alfed Pery
Nose: Clean, medium intense aromas of lemongrass, melon, wetstone and celery.
Palate: Dry, medium body, medium+ acidity, medium alcohol with flavors of grapefruit and melon with a medium length finish.
Recommended. I served this before dinner out by the pool and it was very well recieved. Purchased at Whole Foods. 
 
 
 


2011 Domaines Ott Cotes de Provence
Nose: Clean, medium intense aromas of apricot and red fruit.
Palate: Dry, medium body, medium+ acidity, medium alcohol with flavors mirroring the aromas with a medium length mineral tinged finish.
Recommended. I have had this twice this month. I purchased a bottle at Top Shelf Wine and Spirits in Sugar Land for $22 to bring to a friend's Labor Day party on Galveston Island where it was a big hit. Then, my husband and I had it again last Friday at Aura French Restaurant in Missouri City with the Trout Provencale. That was a great meal, great pairing and priced at $29 on the wine list, a great deal.
related post:
Domaine Ott in Bandol

2008 Les Trois Fitou by Mont Tauch (from the Languedoc region)
I have had this one three times in the past two months. One bottle was absolutely fantastic at home with take-out pizza:
Nose: Clean, medium intense aromas of red fruit, roasted meat and sage.
Palate: Dry, medium body, medium+ acidity, , medium tannins, medium+ alcohol with flavors like the aromas with a medium+ peppery finish.
Three weeks later with take out pizza again, another bottle was just acid and alcohol. We opened something else that night. I tried it again the next day but it had not improved. I ended up dumping it out. Next, I tried it by the glass a week and a half ago at Max's Wine Dive, it was acceptable. Same profile as at its best but with low intensity aromas and a diluted flavor. As it has been inconsistent, I am not recommending it. Approximately $25.

2009 Domaine Faiveley Mercurey
Nose: Clean, medium intense fruity aromas of red berries, cherries and white pepper.
Palate: Dry, medium body, medium+ acidity, medium alcohol with smooth medium tannins; flavors mirroring the aromas with a medium+ length finish.
Recommended. Approximately $30 at Whole Foods.
related posts:
2007 Domaine Faiveley Mercurey
Dinner at the Mockingbird Bistro
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Comments

  1. New Hampshire WinemanSeptember 19, 2012 at 3:50 PM

    Sandra, wonderfully balanced review, one of the best I've ever read: 2008 Les Trois Fitou by Mont Tauch
    You having this with pizza goes a long way to helping me to feel normal.
    Thanks,
    Dennis

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sandra CrittendenSeptember 19, 2012 at 5:40 PM

      Thanks Dennis!
      Grenache based wines are very food friendly and are good with all kinds of things.

      Here is a link for an interesting post on bottle variation that I read a few months ago:
      http://bearonwine.com/2012/04/08/im-back-and-some-thoughts-on-bottle-variation/

      Delete

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