Offering # 3 -- France

Greetings!

Our third offering features French wines from the importer Charles Neal. You remember the French, those folks who helped us out in a couple of scrapes with the British in the 18^th and 19^th century? And with whom we got all huffy in the early 21^st century? It’s nice we’re all friends now. Some of these wines are from obscure regions and unfamiliar grapes, but rest assured they are all quite tasty and represent excellent values.

2008 Chateau Tour de Mirambeau Entre deux Mers

Our first wine is a white Bordeaux, made from nearly equal parts of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle grapes. The wine has a lovely citrus aroma, medium body and a nice crispness to it. This is a great cocktail wine, but it has enough going on to pair well with any white fish. Please don’t serve it too cold.

$14.00 per bottle/$151.20 per case

2009 Domaine Chiroulet Les Terres Blanches

This white wine is from Gascony, home of the Three Musketeers (the Dumas characters, not the candy bar). It is grown on what the winemakers call the white ground or, in French, the “terres blanches.” For wine geeks, this is a big deal. White ground usually means limestone, old sea beds and other things I won’t bore you with. This wine is made from 50% Gros Manseng, 30% Sauvignon Blanc, and 20% Ugni Blanc (what the Italians call Trebbiano). Pour this wine in a glass and you’ll be hit with the scent of grapefruit. It’s a crisp and delicious wine.

$12.00 per bottle/$129.60 per case

2009 Chateau le Roc La Saignée

This lovely rosé is from the southwest of France. Rosé’s reputation was marred by the high crimes committed by Mateus in the 1970s. Since then, rosé has been stuck with the label sweet. Made from 60% Négrette, 30% Syrah and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine is not sweet! To quote importer Charles Neal, this dry rosé is “bursting with raspberry and strawberry fruit, with plenty of weight on the palate.” To quote my wife, “Yum.”

$11.00 per bottle/$118.80 per case

2008 Maison Angelot Gamay

My friend John described this as a picnic wine. He’s right. A picnic: warm day, lots of sunshine, cool red wine. Many members of the church of the vine abstain from white wine, but that doesn’t mean they have to feel left out on a warm day. Here’s a great example of a red that drinks well with a slight chill. Although light in color, it doesn’t lack for elegance. This wine is made from the Gamay grape.

$13.00 per bottle/$140.40 per case

2008 Domaine Chiroulet Cuvée Classique

This is a red wine from Domaine Chiroulet, made from a blend of 50% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Tannat, and 10% Cabernet Franc. The nose on this wine reminds me of the dark cherries we’re starting to see and enjoy at the farmers market. It has the comforting smell of a cigar box, and to quote Charles again it “glides across the palate.” It’s important to know that this wine needs a little time to open up. All of you “I’m not a morning person” people should understand. Like you, this wine is much better an hour or so after you open it up. So, pour some in a glass, decant if you can, cook your dinner, and by the time you’re done this wine will start to show its stuff.

$15.00 per bottle/$162.00 per case

2007 Domaine Les Terrasses d’Eole Mountagniero

This southern Rhone wine, made mostly from Syrah, is a crowd pleaser. It’s a beautiful purple. The problem with serving this wine is the lapping sounds people make when they drink it. It is so easy to suck down, I’ve considered selling it with straws. It comes from Provence, near Mount Ventoux, one of the stages in the Tour de France. On second thought, maybe I should sell it with a Camelbak.

$11.00 per bottle/$118.80 per case

If you would like to purchase one of each of the above selections, the total, with tax, is $82.84.

If you would like to purchase a mixed case (two of each of the above selections) the total, with tax, is $149.11, which is a bit more than $12.00 per bottle.

Also, many of the wines from our last two offerings are still available. Please scroll down for more information on them.

To purchase any of our selections or arrange delivery please contact us at communitywines@gmail.com or call 415-454-1244.

Fine print:

10% discount on any full or mixed case.

We do not, at this time, accept credit cards, but happily take checks or cash.

We offer free delivery within Marin. Note: someone 21 years old or older must be home to accept the wine. For delivery outside of Marin, call me.

Payment requested at time of order.

If you are interested in hosting a tasting at your home, please let me know, and I’ll explain the details.

Please feel free to forward this offer to your friends and family.

If you know people who might like to purchase wine wholesale, please send them my way.

We’d like to thank our friends who gave of themselves and worked tirelessly to try these wines and give us feedback. It’s hard work, but someone’s got to do it. Merci beaucoup to John, Margaret, Mary K., Mary B., Maureen, Kathy, Kathleen, Christina, and Brian.