French wines for beginners

snipped-for-privacy@morganrothlaw.com (cherie) wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@posting.google.com:

Assuming that South of France means Provence you will be finding Cote du Rhone pretty much everywhere. For a basic CdR that is widely available in the US go for Jaboulet's Parallel 45, it is very consistent.

The top wines of the area are Chateauneuf de Pape. There are many available in a price range from 20-50's

Gigondas and Vacqueyras peppery wines with increasing amounts of grenache can be found in the 17-20 range (look for St. Cosme as the most available)

For whites Cote du Rhone blanc from Guigal is the best example I can think of.

Salut/Hi cherie,

le/on 17 Feb 2004 14:20:07 -0800, tu disais/you said:-

Hi,

This is really one for Mike Tommasi, who lives on the Mediterranean coast and knows the wines of the area very well. However, if you like californian wines, you will most probably enjoy the wines of the area. I'll wait for Mike, to see what he suggests, before coming back further.

"Nils Gustaf Lindgren" wrote in news:StDYb.83162$ snipped-for-privacy@newsc.telia.net:

Well, then there is the matter of Cote de Provence which also produces some nice things, I suppose the bottom line is drink what is local, it is a rule that has served me well everywhere but in Bolsena, Italy where the local white, Belvedere, was nearly undrinkable - but it did make Est Est Est look better!

St Chinian is one that I have found in N. Florida and I agree a very pleasant wine for a good price.

Thank you Nils and jcoulter, I can't wait to get started! Yes, I suppose my reference to the "South of France" is a bit vague. We are visiting quite a few areas, and I was trying to be brief (a tip from the "posting style guide---I've never posted a message before). Anyway, our trip starts with a few days in Paris, and then we are taking a wine-themed river cruise along the Rhone and the Saone which leaves from Lyon and travels throughout Macon, Burgundy, Vienne, Cotes du Rhone, Ardeche Valley, Viviers, Provence, Avignon, Marseille, and Arles. After the cruise, we will spend a few days in the Nice/Cannes area on our own. It's a little overwhelming and very exciting as we have never been to France or anywhere in Europe for that matter! And like I've said, we are wine lovers, but have no exposure to French wines. Thanks for the advice. -Cherie

I find that the ones you taste at the domaine taste nothing like the ones you take home... very technological wine, lacks in soul...

Sorry to be pessimistic, but living here, I find Cotes de Provence is mostly very mediocre. Even when it costs 20 Euro. There are exceptions, of course.

Mike

Domaine de Bongran at Quintaine

Domaine Sylvie Esmonin

Les Vins de Vienne, by Cuilleron, Gaillard, Villard.

Domaine Marcel Richaud, Domaine de Gramenon

Chateauneuf du Pape, try Domaine de la janasse, both colours.

Good wine bar, La Part des Anges, near the old port, and good wine shop, Caves Damiani, in the Capelette area.

Nice, go to the bistrot Vin sur Vin, great wine collection, stuff that has not yet made it to your part of the world, and it's a wine shop too. Go rummage in the cellar, you are allowed.

Also, wine shop La Part des Anges.

Mike

Mike Tommasi wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

I was thinking of a wine from IIRC Coteaux d'aix en Provence with a name like Dragon. It was however, as you say, a little pricy at the restaurant that was serving it.

snipped-for-privacy@morganrothlaw.com (cherie) wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@posting.google.com:

If your cruise stops in Tain l'Hermitage or across the river at Tournon you might want to stop in a the cave cooperative in Tain which has a large tasting room with an very expensive tasting menu.

Ah, but Coteaux d'Aix is already a step above, though I never heard of Dragon. Try Chateau Revelette.

Mike

And while in Tournon, try the restaurant Le Chaudron. On an average day you will meet at least two winemakers there...

Mike

Yes, Mike, the cruise does stop in Tain l'Heritage, and docks there overnight as well. Thank you for your suggestion regarding the cave cooperative. As far as Tournon, all I can determine from my brochure is that we take a train excurion through Tournon to the Ardeche region. By docking in Tain, will that bring us close enough to conveniently visit Le Chaudron for dinner? We also dock overnight in Lyon--any suggestions for wining and dining there? Or Cannes?--we will be visiting Cannes for three nights after the cruise.

Ah, this is wonderful. Thanks so much.

-Cherie

Wasn't me, but I agree. Try other local wines, Crozes hermitages by Graillot or by Domaine des Entrefaux

It's across the bridge. You can walk...

A memorable experience with an upcoming chef, Manuel Viron, and his Maison Borie, go now before the guides rate him (he will get a star, I bet), for now the price remains affordable at 50 Euro for the fixed menu. The restaurant itself is a work of art. Tremendous wine list.

Cannes and the Cote d'Azur are not my cup of tea, but I am told Palm Square is very good.

Mike

snipped-for-privacy@morganrothlaw.com (cherie) wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@posting.google.com:

The Tain/Tournon area is very compact. My wife and I took a similar river trip two years ago, she took the train (steam train is a huge thing in Tournon the boilers or some important part were invented there) I walked across the bridge and came back with a case of wine form the Cooperative.

Mike is right though about other offerings. Tain may be the best wine stop on your tour (OK, you will have a side trip to Beaune but beware of what is offered on a tour) I whole heartedly endorse the Graillot, but it is hard to go wrong (well you should experience the cooperatives range of whites to know that not everything there is superior but the Crozes Hermitage is very good QPR and the St Joseph is nice, but if you are looking for a better qulaity there are the aforementioned by Mike as well as Jaboulet and Chapoutier for large houses.

You can walk the whole area easily.