A Free Wine Encyclopedia!This is that bubbly time of year when men and women’s fancies, young and old, turn to thoughts of Champagne. Whoops! Watch the use of that word. Chamdeville is produced in France (in Bordeaux, actually) but outside the strictly de-limited region legally entitled the name “Champagne.” It must therefore go by the less recognizable handle… read more »
The firm of Barton & Gustier has been blending and shipping fine French wines since 1725. They are “negociants-éleveurs”, as well as growers themselves. (their flagship is Chateau Magnol in Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, France.) Even though they are based in Bordeaux, they offer an extensive variety of wines from different regions of France. Michel Fouchaux… read more »
The firm of A. Bichot & Cie is well known in France and in Europe as a leading wine purveyor. They are négociants-éleveur which implies that they do not grow any grapes or vinify wine. They negotiate and purchase wine from different vintners, bring in the wine to their cellars, age them, blend them, and… read more »
Wines evaluated last month: 301 Rejected: 249 Approved: 52 Selected: 2 It still is summer – at least from the weather point of view! – even though we are knocking at the doors of autumn. So here are two summer wines again. For the red wine this month I finally found a blush… read more »
Pinot Noir comes from a grape (vitis vinifera), meaning pine and black that requires a consistent warm climate during the days and followed by cold evenings. It is a light-bodied to medium-bodied wine. This wine is popular in France and is commonly used for sparkling wine.
Grenache is a red grape that is in Southern France and Spain. The distinctive taste of cinnamon in Grenache is what makes it stand out. Grenache is used in some of the most expensive and most elegant wines of the world.
GRATIEN BRUT. NV – ETS GRATIEN, MEYER, SEYDOUX & CIE by Paul Kalemkiarian Sr | December 1984 Gratien Brut is a Saumur mousseux. What does that mean? Mousseux= French word for sparkling wine, usually used to designate these wines from regions other than the famous Champagne region. Wines from the latter region are the only ones… read more »
CABERNET D’ANJOU. 1978 – CHATEAU DE CHEMAN by Paul Kalemkiarian Sr | May 1984 Anjou is a province of the Loire region of France. The most popular wine exported to the United States from this region is Anjou Rose. Sometimes it is very good, at other times it is just ho-hum. (Usually because it is too… read more »
MACON LUGNY. 1982 – LES CHARMES. CAVE DE LUGNY by Paul Kalemkiarian Sr | March 1984 The Maconnais section of the Burgundy region of France is located at the southern end. Little attention was give to Macon wines till the last decade. Wines from this region are reasonable, and they are good. Alexis Lichine tells this story:… read more »
Colombard. 1981 – Villa Baccala by Paul Kalemkiarian Sr | January 1983 Villa Baccala is a brand new label on the wine scene, and this wine is their first release. If their subsequent wines have the same quality for the price, they are on their way to better things. I ran into their booth at… read more »