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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

Comments

  1. 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. 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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