Wine Tasting at Domaine La Tour Boisee

One of our long term producers, with us from our  first year in business, is Jean- Louis Poudou of Domaine La Tour Boisee.  The vineyards are located in the Languedoc area of France in the village of Laure. It is near the medieval village of Carcassone and the Canal Midi, in the heart of the Minervois region.
The family estate began in 1826. Today there are 200 acres of vines and over 2500 olive trees. In 1982 Marie- Claude and Jean-Louis took over the estate from her parents and have grown and enhanced the vineyards.
The French Press refer to Jean-Louis as the "Happy King of the Minervois" because he is always smiling.  He is an energetic and creative wine maker who loves what he is doing.

This is all that is left of the Four Towers of Wood that surrounded the property in the XII century.  The vineyards are surrounded by hills and the vines receive the winds from the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean that  enable wonderful growth.

AOC Minervois  Chateau Tour Boisee

Marie- Claude Red:
Marie-Claude White:











Marielle et Frederique Red;  Named for their two daughters, this is a red wine of 60% Grenache,15% Cinsault, 10% of very small grapes of Syrah, 10% Carignan, and 5% of Mouvedre.  The nose is very ripe dark fruit and berries and the taste is silky and complex.

Domaine Tour Boisee

Une Histoire de Famille Red :  This wine features the Languedoc trio. Grenache 60%, Carignan 20% and Cinsault 20%.  The aroma and taste are of black fruits and berries with a hint of liquorice.  The wine is great with duck, tender red meat and spicy food.
Une Histoire de Famille White: The white is a selection of Marsanne 50%, Vermintino 15%, Rousanne 10%, Grenache white 10%, Maccabeu 10%, and Muscat 5%.  The color is golden with aromas of spring flowers and ripe fruit, peaches and pineapple.This white is wonderful with fish.
Une Histoire de Famille Rose:  The rose is Grenache 40%, Syrah 20%, Cinsault 20,  and Mouvedre 20%.  It is a dark pink color with floral aromas and taste.  It pairs well with barbecued white meats.



Bel Serrat:  means beautiful hills

Malbec- Alicante Red:   This is a blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Alicante.  The Alicante grapevines are traditional to Minervois and  are over 70 years old and bring a subtle kirsche, cherry flavor to the wine. The wine is a deep purple color and has a subtle elegance.  It pairs well with barbecued meats, sweet and sour dishes, and chicken.




Special Production:


Plantation 1905

Plantation 1905 has an interesting history.  At the beginning of the 20th century there were few methods for fighting insects and diseases that attacked the vineyards.  So in the village of Laure a planting was made of many grape varieties to see which would survive.  These vines were also used for grafting so they are the mothers and grandmothers of many wines in the area.  The Cave Cooperative asked Jean-Louis to take over the care of this 1.6 hectare vineyard that now produces 10,000 bottles of wine.  Jean-Louis was curious what the grapes were and asked the Oneology Program at University of Montpellier to identify the grapes. Four of the 23 varieties are unknown.  These grapes are harvested last and produce a wine that is dark, intense and flavorful.

In 2005 Jean-Louis wanted to buy an operating vineyard next to his land.  The vintner wanted to retire. Jean-Louis formed a cooperative.  Steve and I gladly bought 2 shares or 2 hectares.  Here Steve and Jean-Louis are standing in our vineyards.  The wine is called "My Vineyard", how appropriate.

My Vigne

The wine is dark purple/red and very fruity. It is un-oaked and you can fully appreciate the taste of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. It ages well and is best when served with lamb or steak.

Vins Breban

The Breban Family is one of the last family owned companies producing artisanal sparkling wines in the South of France.
The grand-father, Raymond, started his business in his garage in 1942.  He decided to add a full range of wines from Provence. Since then two generations have managed the company with the same   passion and philosophy for quality.
Their wines are famous in France and throughout the world for premium  hand crafted sparkling wines and hand selected wines of Provence and Corsica.

This map details the areas of wine selections.

 The Baron de Breban Rose is  100% Grenache.  It is pale pink in color and has a pleasant nose of strawberry and raspberry.  It is fresh and a well balanced wine.  It is a perfect aperitif wine.

The Baron de Breban White is 80% Ungi Blanc and 20% Colombard.  the wine is a pale yellow color with hints of green.  it has a complex nose with bouquets of citrus fruit, peaches and small white flowers. It is harmonious and fresh.

We tasted with Laurent Breban, the current CEO, Laurent Terrison and Clara a staff person.  We selected a new sparkling Cuvee Laurent named for the CEO.  it is made from the Muscat Grape

There were several other Roses we liked and will have for the 2016 summer season.

Wine Tasting at Chateau Beauchene

Chateau Beauchene  is a beautiful vineyard in Piolenc France near Orange. While Piolenc is quite small  it does have a beautiful Arch in the center of town.

The Chateau dates back to the XVIII and the Bernard Family has an even longer wine history.  The family began to grow grapes in 1794 after the French Revolution.
Today there are more than 80 hectares of vines.  The main production is Cotes du Rhone but 6 hectares are Chateauneuf du Pape.
The view towards the Chateau is beautiful, it is surrounded by vineyards.  There  are wonderful formal gardens near the Chateau.

Behind the wall are beautiful formal gardens

Michel Bernard  took over the family property  in 1971 and made the Chateau the center of wine making with over 80 hectares (160 acres) of vines.

Michel and Dominique Bernard manage the vineyards and wine making and Amandine Bernard is the export manager.  Wine tasting with the Bernard's is always an adventure.  The portfolio of wines is large and each offering is excellent.

The grounds at the Chateau were always beautiful; the tasting room is modern, spacious and comfortable. Just inside, the wine production area is modern  and spotless. 

In 2012 a renovation project sought to restore the old chateau just

behind the main Chateau  from the 1300's to its original grandeur.  The kitchen and dining area was painstakingly restored and definitely worth a visit!

Another new adventure was  preparing the salon for weddings.  Several weddings are held each year in the incredible space.

The wines of Chateau Beauchene are extraordinary, made with care and expertise.  The portfolio is extensive, reds, whites and roses.

Chateauneuf du Pape is the most famous wine of the southern Rhone.  The appellation is the "New Chateau of the Pope".  The Pope was in residence in Avignon and summered here among the grape vines in the 1300's. There isn't much left of  the Chateau, just one wall is standing but the vineyards are amazing.

Thirteen grapes can be used in CNDP but Grenache is the main grape in  Beauchene's Grande Reserve CNDP at 80%, 15% is Syrah, and 5 % Mouvedre.  The wine  is velvety smooth with ripe red and black fruit as well as mocha, spice, and oak.

Premier Terroir is an interesting wine.  At one point the grapes were considered in CNDP but new lines were drawn by the French Government and these parcels just across a small dirt path were excluded and said to be outside the boundaries of CNDP.  This wine is from the oldest of the vineyard planted in 1905. The grapes are 70% Grenache, 25% Syrah ,5% Mourvedre.  This wine is full bodied,  rich, smooth and fruity.  it tastes of black fruit and figs and ages well.  A fabulous wine for the price.

Grand Reserve Viognier is the green bottle on the right.

This is my all time favorite white wine.  It is 100% Viognier grape andis low in acidity and  tastes very round in the mouth.  One can taste taste  pear, apricots and apples. 

Le Pavillon, in the middle, is a fruity rose is composed of Cinsault 60%, Syrah 30%, and Grenache 10%.  It is clear pink and has a bouquet of strawberry and raspberry.  Simple and delicious. 

The Cotes du Rhone Village  on the left is Grenache 60%, Syrah 25%, Mouvedre 10%, and Carignan 5%.  The taste is ripe red fruit but light and elegant not overwhelming.

To see all the portfolio of wines visit the Beauchene Web site.  

Wine Tasting at Domaine de la Citadelle

On a recent trip to France we visited Domaine de la Citadelle to taste current wines with Alexis Rousett- Rouard.  Alexis has been a friend and producer of ours for many years.

The history of the vineyards is very  interesting.  The family moved from Marseille to Menerbes in 1990.  They purchased an old farm house and 8 hectares (18 acres) of vines on the northern slopes of the Luberon.  Today there are 39 hectares and a very modern plant,and  a large tasting room with many wine items for sale.
The wines are very  high quality and have won many awards.  The press for Citadelle  is excellent.

 The private tasting area has a wonderful picture window over looking the vineyards and Menerbes in the distance. Alexis is  the director of the vineyards and his father is a long time Mayor of Menerbes and a famous film producer.

This lovely building houses the wine tasting and sales area as well as the Cork Screw Museum.

Wine Tasting and Sales area

This is a shot of the Corkscrew Museum or Musee du Tire Buchon at Domaine de la Citadelle.  Yves Rouset-Rouard began this incredible collection by buying a batch of corkscrews at an auction.  When he acquired the vine yard he decided to put the collection in part of the old wine cellar.  Today enclosed in glass  are hundreds of very old and some newer corkscrews.  The displays explain the history of each buchon.  A very interesting visit awaits you.

And what of the wines?  There is a large portfolio of wine, Red, White and Rose.

La Citadelle Gouverneur Saint Auban  Red- Syrah,Grenache and Mouvedre

                                                                           White- Marsanne, Vermintino, Grenache, and                Chardonnay

Les Artemes  Red - Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvedre

                               White-  Grenache Roussan, Marsanne, Clarette, Ugni

Le Chataigner Red- Syrah, Grenache, and Carignan

             White - Clairette, Grenach, 

 Ugni

This is one of my favorite Pictures of Alexis.  If you are in  the Luberon area stop by and say hello from Steve and me.

Want a delicious inexpensive summer wine?  Try Louis Pierre Chardonnay!  It is a refreshing unoaked  Chardonnay with lots of fruit and a mouth watering zip!  Just the thing for a hot summer day.

                  Christian Roux in the center, Mathieu left and Sebastian on the right.

These grapes are from the Roux Family vines in the Languedoc area of Southern France.  The Roux Family is based in St. Aubin France where they own 70 Hectares of vineyards in the Cote de Nuits, Cote de Beaune, and Cote Chalonnaise.  They are one of the leading producers of Burgundy wines. The family holdings date back to 1885 and the fourth generation now manages the wine making

This wine is made in the Burgundy style and an awesome taste for a wonderful price!
Interested?  Contact redwine2@msn.com