Skip to main content

Review: Macon Lugny “Les Charmes” 2010 Chardonnay, France

Les Charmes 2010 Chardonnay.

Charmed again.

It was a pleasure to visit the new vintage of this wine. Last year I enjoyed the estate grown 2009 “Les Charmes” Chardonnay by Cave de Lugny. With memories of the previous vintage still fresh in sensory memory, I was charmed once again by “Les Charmes” Chardonnay.

On the nose mineral, fig, ginger and wet stone. After 30 minutes, good aromatics with a rich almost floral aroma, similar to our local sagebrush (Rosacae Purshia Tridentata) in bloom, with cinnamon and rose petal. I enjoyed the crisp, mineral and stone fruit qualities of the Les Charmes. With a lively finish of mineral, stone fruit, river rock and cinnamon it hangs for a while and put a smile on my face. A balanced wine, refreshing and tasty.

My impression is that this wine has gone up a notch in quality. It is more versatile and elegant, overall it is more expressive than the 2009 vintage, very good. Put this wine on the menu. Recommended.

Suggested pairings: oysters on the half shell, steamed clams, sashimi, fried chicken, fried pork shops, summer evenings and good friends.

ABV: 13%
Closure: Screwcap.
Sample provided by Pasternak Wine Imports.
Price: $15 - $20

Cave de Lugny is a cooperative of 250+ wine-growing estates and 1,500 hectares in Burgundy-Maconnais. The single vineyard soil is characterized as chalky/limestone, the vines average age is 40 years old. The majority of this vineyard is planted to “Musk Chardonnay” a sub-category of the Chardonnay varietal (a clone).

Contact Pasternak Wine Imports for pricing and availability www.pasternakwine.com

Related posts: 

November 2011 #winechat Les Charmes Chardonnay 2009

Review: Les Charmes Single Vineyard Chardonnay Macon-Lugny, August 2011

Cheers!
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Spirit Review: Ole Smokey Tennessee Moonshine White Lightnin' @OleSmoky

Today I have crossed the line from wine to spirits. At 100 proof the Ole Smokey Tennessee Moonshine is definitely turning up the volume (ABV 50%). "Moonshine, white lightning, mountain dew, hooch, and Tennessee white whiskey are terms used to describe high-proof distilled spirits, generally produced illicitly...The word "moonshine" is believed to derive from the term "moonrakers" used for early English smugglers and the clandestine (i.e., by the light of the moon) nature of the operations of illegal Appalachian distillers who produced and distributed whiskey." Source Wikipedia My family is no stranger to Moonshine.  That is, my great-grandfather and grandfather were not strangers. Evidently the family occasionally produced their own spirits on their Oregon ranch. My grandfather told me about his younger brother getting into his dads stash with predictable results. Grandmother also told me stories about midnight runs and secretive deliveries d...
Read more

Review: Sho Chiku Bai, Unfiltered Sake

Last month in Seattle, I purchased a bottle of Nigori sake at Uwajimaya. Uwajimaya is one of the largest Asian grocery retailers in the Pacific Northwest. I’ve been visiting Uwajimaya for almost 40 years. When I was much younger, I’d buy model ship and plane kits, Japanese comic books (manga) and I never left without at least one steaming Humbow in hand. Today I buy the manga for my son; while I still enjoy the tasty steamed Humbows, now I never leave without at least one bottle of Sake in hand. Uwajimaya has a terrific selection of imported sake. This most recent visit, I left with a bottle of Sho Chiku Bai Nigori sake. Nigori sake is generally the sweetest of all sakes, with a fruity nose and a mild flavor, making a great drink to complement spicy foods or as a dessert wine. Typical sake is usually filtered to remove grain solids left behind after the fermentation process; however Nigori sake remains unfiltered, resulting in a cloudier beverage. Before serving, the bottle ...
Read more

Col Solare Cabernet Sauvignon. The style has changed.

“There is something special going on at Col Solare." In mid-June 2022, I began working for Col Solare winery on the Red Mountain AVA in Washington state. The Red Mountain AVA and Col Solare are famous for stunning Cabernet Sauvignon. That I knew going in.  We are not here to make more wine... We are here to showcase place. At the end of June 2022, Col Solare winemaker Darel Allwine retired. Darel had been winemaker since 2013. Prior, he had been Col Solare assistant winemaker for Marcus Notaro. Marcus had been Col Solare winemaker when the Red Mountain facility opened and was winemaker before we had our Red Mountain facility.  On July 1, 2022, Col Solare assistant winemaker, Stephanie Cohen, was promoted to Col Solare winemaker. I was present for this change. It was the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one. Col Solare is the third winery I have worked for. I chose well.  Often, I am asked by Col Solare guests, as I was last week, “Tell me about Col Solare. Wh...
Read more