by katrin on May 21, 2012
First of all, I have to address a question that I had been on my mind since I picked up this wine: what is Laborde Double Select? According to winemaker Laura Catena in an interview with Vin de la Table, it refers to Luis Laborde, who brought a select sample of Syrah vines from the Rhône. He planted them in Mendoza, studied the vines, and selected the clones that produced the best fruit, hence the double select. The vines from which the grapes for this wine were harvested are now just over 50 years old and producing great wine.
In the glass the Luca Syrah was a deep, saturated, rich purple that shows no signs of having aged. The nose was attractive and vibrant with loads of fresh blueberry and ripe black cherries, kirsch, dust, and pepper. Dark chocolate, black licorice, dark fruits, and cedar create an interesting palate. Medium bodied with a solid core of acidity and tannins that have started to dissipate a bit with age. Moderately long finish. Very good.
At Vinodivino for about $22.
2011 Laurent Miquel Père et Fils Cinsault Syrah Pays d'Oc
For the Rosé Society, this is the time of year to which we look forward. The rosés from the previous vintage are now being released, making their way to our local wine shops’ shelves. For the most part – and there are exceptions – rosés should be drunk within a year following their release. In a way similar to Beaujolais Nouveau but so much better – and classier – rosés are meant to be drunk young.
One of the highlights of L’Adventure Languedoc which we attended at the Boston Conference Center in early April was the abundance of just released rosés. When I realized that the “Père et Fils” was from Languedoc and produced by the young winemaker Laurent Miquel, into my cart it went. Incidentally, the labelling on the bottle would have been inconceiveable in France five years ago: the varietals, Cinsault and Syrah, are boldly proclaimed. In order to compete in the world wine market and, in accordance with European Union classification initiatives, the French system was overhauled; varietals and location where the grapes were grown can now be displayed on wine labels.
The wine is wonderfully fresh with a very definite zip. The aroma is one of ripe red berries. The juicy fruit carries through onto the palate. There is a pleasant softness to the mouthfeel followed by a good dose of acidity. The fruit follows through to the end – and with the acidity – makes for a lovely finish. The result is fruit forward and refreshing, suitable for both quaffing and pairing with food.
A good choice for Mothers’ Day – the low alcohol level of 12.5% ensures that the old lady – I mean your mother – won’t get too unruly.
$9.99 on sale at
Whole Foods Market 340 River St. Camb. MA
"Think Pink!"
The rosé season has begun. Katrin with her review of the 2010 Meinklang Prosa inaugurated our pink season. (And if you find this style of lightly effervescent rosé enjoyable, seek out the one one made by Michlits, another biodynamic Austrian producer.) This is a time of year that we of the Rosé Society anticipate. The Rosé Society – the name bestowed on us by Eleni – is one of several alter egos present at WineDineWith.Us. When we were young wineaux just forming the tasting group that would become this blog, one of our interests was “pinks”. At that time rosés were somewhat controversial – the avant garde of the wine world was promoting them while the old guard was haughtily dismissing them. Times change – the avant garde won, the old guard dottered off - and rosés have become a mainstay of the wine scene.
My first rosé of the season is the 2011 Château de Campuget Tradition Rosé Costière de Nîmes. A blend of 30% Grenache Noir and 70% Syrah, the wine is rightly characterized as a “PLW”, i.e. “ pretty little wine”. And pretty it is. While the producer describes the hue as “peony pink”, there actually is a strong splash of salmon that makes the wine less gaudy than peony would imply. A bowl of mixed red berries, a sprig or two of wild herbs – a delicate nose. The mouthfeel is smooth, rounded, a bit weighty, contrasting nicely with the medium acidity that follows. The wine finishes with some astringency which further adds to the structure. The delicate fruit carries through to the finish. As befits a PLW, there is no complexity here only quaffability. As summer too slowly approaches, get a jump on the season and “Think Pink”.
Available at Bin Ends $9.60
The L’Aventure Languedoc tasting in April that Glenn and I participated in last month was a fantastic opportunity to get reacquainted with the wines of the Languedoc. One of the things that I took away from that tasting was that there are many great wines – not the rough plonk for which it had developed a bad reputation – being made in the region that are available here at quite reasonable prices. Of the dozens that we tasted, one particular wine really stood out: the 2007 Pierre Gaillard Transhumance. Both Glenn and I stood back and said “wow” and savored the sample. It was concentrated, but elegant, and I made a point to seek it out after the tasting.
With May 3 being Languedoc Wine Day on Twitter (#LanguedocDay), it seemed a perfect time to open this wine. Made by Pierre Gaillard, who is better known for his wines from the northern Rhône, Transhumance is a blend of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, and 10% Mourvedre. It is from a small appellation called Faugères, which has soils dominated by schist.
At five years old, it showed little sign of fatigue in the glass with a core of dark purple and lighter violet rim. The first aromas to arise from the wine were stone, dust, and minerality. This was followed by dark cherry, a bit of blueberry, leather, and smoke. Cherry jam, cocoa, and spice on the palate. While the acidity gave Transhumance a zippy freshness, the velvety tannins were rather light and short-lived. Spice and heat on the finish. Very good.
At The Vin Bin for $29.99.
by katrin on March 12, 2012
The Charles & Charles Red is another offering from Charles Smith and Charles Bieler of Washington State. Both Glenn and I enjoyed their rosé last summer – fantastic price for the perfect summer staple. Their red wine, however, did not wow me. My initial thought was that this blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon and 49% Syrah had more style than substance. While this is a rather light-weight blend of two varietals that are more often than not heavy hitters, I appreciated the restraint as I dipped into my second glass (what can I say it started to grow on me!) and didn’t feel weighed down by big tannins and high alcohol.
The Charles & Charles is deep garnet and purple in the glass. The nose is a bit green with notes of branch and leaf, light blueberry, some cassis, chocolate, and hints of perfume. The vegetal characteristics and blueberry carried into the palate. Light body that is slightly watery, medium minus acidity, low tannins. Short finish. An ok, easy-going wine that would be good for a crowd.
At The Meat House in Coolidge Corner for $11.99.
by katrin on February 16, 2010
It is a bit unusual for me to drink two bottles of wine made of the same varietal from the same country back-to-back. But after having finished the review of the Caligiore Syrah (see my previous post), the bottle of Luigi Bosca Syrah called to me and I wondered how these wines would compare.
