French wines for beginners

I think that restaurant is actually located in our hotel. Excellent.

-Cherie

Actually, Nils, that sounded just like me! You may just have a career in that. It's uncanny, it is.

-Cherie

At Caves Damiani in Marseille you will find Bourbon. What was the last one I bought, Red something....

Mike

Mike Tommasi, Six Fours, France email link

Fret not, cherie. Nils is one of the most good natured people you're ever likely to encounter on Usenet (and I say this as one who spent two great days with him, his charming wife, Mike Tommasi and his wife touring the wine country of the French Riviera and eating an absolutely stunning bouillabaise). Ignorance is nothing to be ashamed of; indeed, why else do we spend so much time prattling on about wine here in afw if not for the opportunity to learn and teach about this endlessly fascinating and complex subject?

To answer your question: the white wines of Burgundy are almost exclusively Chardonnay and represent the apex of what the grape can achieve. Most are so expensive that unless you're a corporate lawyer or a rock star you probably can't afford them. However, there are also reasonably priced Chardonnays produced in some of the lesser districts of Burgundy, like Pouilly-Fuissé and St. Vèran (and Mâcon-Villages). Good examples are often tought to find in the US, but you could look to see if you can find an example from Louis Latour. True Chablis, from the district of that name, is one of the great examples of Chardonnay and is still affordable. If you can find a Drouhin Chablis, that's a good example. You'll find that Chardonnay from France is similar in style to Chardonnay from Oregon and New Zealand (crisper, fruitier, less oaky and less buttery). A good Chardonnay to me tastes of apples and maybe pineapple. See what you think.

HTH Mark Lipton

I'll leave the discussion of Cannes to the residents, but the *drive* from Marseille to Cannes is not to be missed. Take the highway that runs along the coast. It's a stunning view of the azure Mediterranean framed against the red sandstone cliffs (a la Lake Mead in AZ, if you've seen it) with the occasional purple bougainvillea growing up along the cliffs. I'd put that particular stretch of road alongside Hwy 1 in CA and the Burr Trail in UT as the most spectacular I've seen.

Mark Lipton

.... and laaast, but not least, _AUSTRIA_! Yayy!

Cheers

Nils Gustaf

"Mark Lipton" skrev i meddelandet news: snipped-for-privacy@purdue.edu...

Never fear, and besides, my cardiologist is mailing you his bill.

...

exclusively Chardonnay and represent the apex of what the

lawyer or a rock star you probably can't afford

some of the lesser districts of Burgundy, like

MArk; While I agree that there are good QPR to be had from the dsitricts outside Cote d´Or and Chablis, I would still like to point our recent procelyte in the direction of the "lesser" communes of Cote de Beaune - ST Aubin, St Romain, and, this evenings offer here in Sweden, Ladoix. Nutty, buttery, with fresh acids, not Meusault of course, but definitely very good value for fairly reasonable money. We´ve had Drouhin´s St Aubin twice this autumn and it is very much a Drouhin - OK, it´s a big producer, perhaps a bit conventional, but I think of them as valeurs surs (not montant), they ahve never amde me disappointed, and at times, I have beeen very pleasantly surprised - anyway, I wasn´t going to blab about Drouhin, but about the small producers int the small villages ... planning to visit Henri Germain in Meursault this summer, I hope ... Serious question, BTW - do you speak French at all, Cherie? If not, a crash course would be advisable - many of the wine producers speak little or no English (besides, some of them do not like to, but will do it anyway if you have shown good willing). Remember, they are farmers, not high school alumni. Very good farmers, at that, and proud of their profession, but still, foreign languages have not beeen of major importance for many of them. Trsut me on this, with some knowledge of French your stay will be more enjoyable.

Cheers!

Nils Gustaf

Marseille to Cannes is not to

view of the azure

if you've seen it) with the

particular stretch of road

Oh, yes, Hwy 1 in CA....breathtaking. Probably the most beautiful drive I've ever taken (though Alaska, and Hawaii too, is absolutely awesome). I also just spoke to an acquaintance today who frequents Europe who described the Mediterranean drive as a fairytale. Sigghhhhh.

Cherie Morganroth

likely to encounter on Usenet (and I say this as

wife touring the wine country of the French

nothing to be ashamed of; indeed, why else do we

opportunity to learn and teach about this endlessly

Chardonnay and represent the apex of what the

lawyer or a rock star you probably can't afford

of the lesser districts of Burgundy, like

tought to find in the US, but you could look to

district of that name, is one of the great examples

that's a good example. You'll find that

Zealand (crisper, fruitier, less oaky and less

See what you think.

Just as I suspected! Really, you all seem like good-natured, kind, fun, intelligent and generous people. And I didn't think Nils was being a bully at all--I'm not TOO sensitive--but I'm sure he was a little frustrated with me. Having just invaded your group this week, I feel I have already learned so much, yet seem to have so little of my own knowledge to impart to all of you. Maybe I can surprise you all in time. In the meantime, I will be perusing the wine list tonight for something new (to me) to try. Last night I tried an Amerone which was very nice but I was expecting more...more what I'm not sure...more complexity, more richness...it was a Cesari 1999 Amerone della Valpolicella Classico. I prefered the Zenato Ripassi I had the night before--so very velvety. As far as Chardonnay goes, maybe one of these days I will have to splurge (how much are we talking about??) and try a Chardonnay from Burgundy, I would love to experience all that a French Chardonnay can be. (Hell, I'm no rock star, but I am a corporate lawyer!)

-Cherie Morganroth

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

For a good Chablis you should be able to get Drouhin in a good store for

For the Grand cru look for the grapes to come from Grenouilles (there are six others and all are good but Grenouille is my favorite "unpronouncable" word in French. You should see the reactions from my French friends when I try it)

Premier crus that I have enjoyed come from Montee Tonnerre, Fourchaume, and Vaillons. The one you will like best by comparison to California is William Fevre, oaky and unusual for a Chablis but please stick with Drouhin, or Long Depaquit or Laroche all of which should be available in your market. Chablis is in general a very austere wine with a taste like water off of fresh pebbles in a mountain stream. (You can smell the limestone and that is a good thing!)

Salut/Hi Mark Lipton,

le/on Sat, 21 Feb 2004 18:52:07 GMT, tu disais/you said:-

No need to stick out tongue. There's on old saying "one man's meat is another man's poison" (I leave it to you to put in "wo" in places where it suits! So you don't need to be either defensive or defiant ;-)) (Even in jest).

Don't worry, most people brought up in US style wines find french wines confusing, if not downright disappointing.

to be ashamed of; indeed, why else do we

opportunity to learn and teach about this endlessly

I'd underline this. I may know a lot about one wine type or another, but am almost entirely ignorant about many. Even in my areas of knowledge, there are many times when I make mistakes. In general, when people aren't aggressive or blatantly (and erroneously) pig-headed, we're really quite a tolerant bunch, who get on well together.

Chardonnay and represent the apex of what the

I agree 100% (but I am hopelessly in love with them. Quite beyond redemption).

probably can't afford them.

There I must qualify you, Mark. "In America". I bought François Mikulski (who has some small following in the USA it seems) Meursault Genverières - arguably his best wine (2001 I think) recently and it cost me under $40 a bottle. From what I read on the NG, that's considered a well within a moderate budget here on afw.

Chardonnay and is still affordable.

Again, I agree (as I usually do with you) but it would only be fair to point out that Chablis represents more or less one extreme of the grape variety in France, with wines such as Meursault being close to the opposite extreme.

I took French all through high school, but that was a long time ago. I do remember quite a few words, but have great difficulty putting them into proper sentences. I bought a translating phrase book and a dictionary, determinined to study up. However, one problem keeps tugging at me--no matter how many "phrases" or little questions I teach myself to emit, I am fairly certain that there is no way I am going to understand anyone's response! And my poor husband does not know any French at all. Maybe I should try to find a local class for us to take, or buy some tapes or something. We have four months.

-Cherie (at least I have a French name)

"cherie" skrev i meddelandet news: snipped-for-privacy@posting.google.com...

You may have a problem if you visit Gros Noré and it´s M Pascal's brother (who i, of course, also M Pascal) who takes the call - he has an accent you could float a brick on. Appart from taht, just get going. I promis you, you won´t regret it. besides, if you took French in high school it would appear to be more of refreshing old knowledge.

Cheers

Nils Gustaf

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

I have found, though I can hardly follow a french conversation, that when you show the inclination to communicate, the respnse will be slower and clearer. This is especially true at wineries because the people that you are dealing with, though far from cosmopolitan, are immensely proud of their work and will go to great lengths to be understood as long as you show how much you care. I have had incredible tours of facilities from people who spoke no English and since tasting is without language, was going to say tongue ;-) the smiles the oohs and ahhs cover a great range of vocabulary.

Indeed. Last night I brought a Verget Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles '93 to a small dinner. Something of a departure from California chards. Enjoyable, certainly. Segue into ...

... which wine would you pair with black sea bass steamed with ginger and scallions?

I'd opt for a Grüner Veltliner, preferably a Smaragd from the Wachau. An off-dry Riesling would do well, too, IMO.

Mark Lipton

"Steve Grant" wrote in news:c1be1h$ snipped-for-privacy@dispatch.concentric.net:

I would think Sauvignon Blanc, the citrus notes would work well with the ginger.

Ian:

Thanks for the words of wisdom. I think that simply learning more about wines on this NG, Chardonnays in this instance, will help me to appreciate French (and other) wines more. When I was poured that French Chardonnay, it was really my expectations that got in the way. I remember that throughout my glass of wine I altered between appreciating its qualities, and actually doubting that it was even Chardonnay because it did not resemble what I knew to be Chardonnay. This irritated me because I couldn't figure out why I was served this wine after telling the server what I was looking for. I think with my new understanding I could be considerably more open to the differences in these wines. And last week, after trying my first French Red (a Cote du Rhone), I was really surprised to find how much I enjoyed it. (Though I think this particular CDR needed a touch more fruit for my tastes). And the Zenato Ripassi--not French, I know--but without reading about it on this NG, I never would have recognized it on a wine list last week and ordered it (my husband and I both loved it). Anyway, my point is that even though I have a very long way to go, I'm already learning so much. (So, thank you, afw people.)

-Cherie M.

Nils- I appreciate the advice. I am a little nervous about it. I want this trip to be all that it can be. I could probably get by with minimal language-refreshing if my trip were to begin and end in Paris...but alas, that's just the beginning of the adventure. Who knew a few weeks ago that I would now be learning so much about wine, studying French again, and conversing with enlightened strangers from across the globe. I love that life is like that. My little world is getting bigger.

(Enough philosophizing.) Au revoir- Cherie