Skip to main content

2 Joseph Drouhin LaForêt Bourgogne Wines @DreyfusWines

 
photo

Dreaming of summer.

Bitter cold weather has descended on the valley. It's supposed to be even colder over the next few days. Joy. At least I have a good pair of warm boots for braving the outdoors. I even have a pair of warm wool boots for indoor wear too - they are definitely needed.
 
"...a wine for when you want to dream of warmer days..."

Yes, I'm dreaming of warmer days and these two approachable wines from France helped fight off the chill. They taste of summer. I'd like to start this post with a video of the Winemaker Veronique Drouhin-Boss.


She discusses the LaForêt Bourgogne Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. A gifted speaker, a woman winemaker, she uses wonderful descriptive language. Ah, I watched her video after writing my notes - buy these wines and taste with her. Love her descriptions. Enjoy.



Tasting Notes: Joseph Drouhin Bourgogne Chardonnay 2012 LaForêt

Color: Silver/gold with green highlights
Nose: Wet slate, mineral, honey, toast, some spicy ouhd incense as the wine warmed.
Palate: Fresh, light-bodied, clean, citrus and mineral on finish. As it warmed almost creamy, stone fruit and spice added to the finish. After an hour this wine came together with freshness and a pleasing spicy finish. If you don't go full hog, this wine will put a smile on your face too. The light oak treatment really shows off the fruit in this wine.

Thoughts: Very good with soft cheese (Jarlsberg is what I had on hand), ham and crackers. Good choice as a starter wine and for casual occasions. An appropriate warm day wine or a wine for when you want to dream of warmer days - as I am. A wonderful entry level Burgandy wine. Recommended.

Closure: Screw Cap
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
ABV: 13%
SRP: $18
Sample provided by winery
Contact dreyfusashby.com for availability


Tasting Notes: Joseph Drouhin Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2011 LaForêt

Color: Clear ruby.
Nose: Floral, soft marigold, raspberry, savory with white pepper.
Palate: Light, smooth, moderate grip along edge of tongue, delicate with a proper amount of acidity across the palate, raspberry and cherry on the dry finish. Balanced wine waiting for dinner. Flexible enough to pair with many meals, seafood, poultry and lightly seasoned beef stew.

Day two:  A bit more assertive. Firmer on the palate, acid and tannin across the tongue, rich essence mid-palate, tart cherry finish. Beef Carpachio would be wonderful with this wine.

Thoughts: Yes a food wine. Suitable for pork chops, tenderloin, grilled chicken, broiled salmon, and lamb chops. Drink now and through 2016. Recommended.

Blend: 100% Pinot Noir
ABV:12.5%
Closure: Screw Cap
SRP: $18
Sample provided by the winery
Contact www.dreyfusashby.com for availability

Off to brave the cold. Keep warm friends.

Cheers!

Popular posts from this blog

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 ...

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...

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...