French Six Pack for Olympic Enjoyment
Offer available as inventory lasts.
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Hi everyone –
The Olympics are on!
Regardless of what you thought of the opening ceremony (a very controversial subject in my social circles … for what it’s worth I thought it was pretty awesome though I felt so sorry for all the performers being in the rain. And the fact that the Olympic “flame” is composed of LED lights and water mist is kinda odd, and I loved the Lady Gaga part even if it was pre-recorded), it’s always great fun to watch the international sporting competition.
I can’t wait for the break dancing to begin!
Here we have a WONDERFUL six-pack of all French selections to enjoy over the coming weeks. It’s geared toward summer, with one bubbly, three whites, one rosé, and one chillable summertime red. Let’s get to it!
Note: Special deep discount pricing only available on the six-pack purchase.
Cave de Bissey, Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Méthode Traditionnelle (NV)
Fantastic Cremant de Bourgone continues to be the top bang-for-the-buck sparkling wine available to consumers. When you add in the fact that this gem is a direct import to Minnesota (i.e. the importer and MN distributor are the same, and thus the wine is not marked up as much) we have reason to cheer and celebrate.
At our recent Sparkling Wine Masterclass this was the most popular wine, showcasing layers of complexity and finesse that makes it my favorite Cremant so far in 2024. Produced with a combination of traditional Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with a touch of the rare and wonderful Aligoté.
Did you know that all Crémant de Bourgone has to come from vineyards previously designated for the production of sparkling wine? In other words, you can’t just take extra juice or buy bulk juice to make Crémant. It’s controlled from vineyard source to bottle. Cool, huh?
Domaine Nebout, Saint-Pourçain Le Tressallier des Gravières
One of my absolute favorite under-the-radar whites, made with the super rare Tressalier grape which also goes by the name Sacy (“Do you have any sassy wines??” Ha! Wine humor!)
It’s an extremely rare grape planted west of Burgundy and at the far stretches of the Loire River. Push a pin in the exact center of France and you’re not too far off.
Racy aromas of lime zest and minerality make this an ideal Sauvignon Blanc substitute. Take out the shrimp cocktail and sit in the sunshine with this beauty. Learn more about Tressallier.
Château L’Ermite d’Auzan, Costières de Nîmes Blanc
Roussane, Viognier, and Grenache Blanc combine forces to be a power trio similar to Hüsker Dü, Rush, Cream, and the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
Grenache Blanc is the drums, holding down the rythym and keeping the train moving forward.
The Viognier is the bass, exotic and haunting, playing in the background but essential to the whole.
And Rousanne is the lead guitar, with the acidity to hit the high notes.
This is a personal favorite summertime white. I love this stuff. Medium bodied, a good edge of acidity, complex aromas, great with food … what more could you want?
Ideal with grilled shrimp or salmon.
Chateau Trebiac, Graves Blanc
Ever since traveling to Bordeaux last September and this past April (and returning this September to lead another tour) we’ve been seeking out, tasting, pouring, and enjoying more and more Bordeaux whites. And after tasting over 100 examples, I can say with confidence this is one of favorites.
Ready for something cool that many don’t know about this wine? It’s 100% Sémillon!
The freshness and brightness of this wine is off the hook, but the length the Sémillon gives is so so so delicious.
The nose opens with delicate floral notes which harmonize with aromas of quince and honey with overtones of mango and lime which create a sensation of freshness on the palate. The acidity gives it a straightforwardness and length and finishes with floral notes and citrus zest. Yum!
Mas de Gourgonnier, Les Baux-de-Provence Rosé
We’re entering the peak point moment for many rosé, where they have been in the bottle long enough to come together, meld flavors together, and still retain the freshness and acidity we seek.
Mas de Gourgonnier is a staple in the Twin Cities. It was first brought to the United States via Minnesota and their long-time importer. The red is the wine most people know, but a small amount of dry pink wine graces us every year.
Now I’ll be honest. I don’t like this wine every year. Some years it falls flat, some years it sings. Much of this is attributable to the organic and biodynamic farming they have done for decades … they are simply more impacted by the whims of weather. Crucially, for this particular wine, you cannot read the vintage reviews of Wine Spectator and make any judgement, for Mas de Gourgonnier is really unto themselves in terms of a micro-climate. So you just have to wait for the new vintage to come out and try it then.
This release is the best rosé they have ever produced, and that’s saying a lot. It is beyond delicious.
Domaine Pluchot, Côte Roannaise “Gamay St. Romain Arris”
Time for some fun!
Chillable reds are one of my favorite categories. Some of you know that I actually drink more red wine in the summer than the winter (go figure that out!). I don’t know why that is, but it’s been the case for over ten years. But as I started to embrace not just cool, but COLD red wines a few years ago, I found out just how much fun they can be.
Gamay is a perfect grape for such chilling, especially when it’s made in a carbonic style to show off freshness and brightness. But this particular clone of Gamay, Gamay St. Romain, is the local clone that is harvested later (often into mid-October), offering a deeper flavor profile than you might expect. The vineyards of this region are also higher in altitude than Beaujolais, so what you get here is a whole NEW style of Gamay than you may expect.
This gem is new to Minnesota … nobody really knows about it, yet. I guess I just let the cat out of the bag. There are a ton of retailers that read this newsletter so hopefully it will show up in their shops soon.
LOADS of fresh raspberry-driven fruit with a touch of herbal yum. 100% sustainable and organically farmed. Grill up some chicken wings and don’t hold back on the hot sauce … this can handle bold flavors especially when it’s served chilled. There is a refreshment to this wine that is so wonderfully tasty.
Final thoughts
Six wines, all pitch-perfect for summer. Print out a map of French wine regions, curl up on the couch, enjoy the Olympics, and grab any of these for happy enjoyment.
Merci!
Jason Kallsen
Sommelier and founder/owner of Twin Cities Wine Education
Offer and special pricing are available as inventory lasts