winewaves

Fat Bastard Vin de Pays D'oc Chardonnay 2004

Fat Bastard Chardonnay gets laughs, and is often purchased as a bit of a joke. In truth, it is a collaboration between winemaker Thierry Boudinaud and Londoner Guy Anderson, who are serious about quality and value. Fat Bastard was a term Thierry applied to the intial prototype, a partially-barrel-fermented Sur Lie Chardonnay (sans Malolactic), as a complement to it, due to its round texture.

The grapes are sourced from the Languedoc-Roussillon, with a majority from the Minervois district, where stony soil is the norm.  Click Wine Group imports. 88 points.  Color: Pale lemon-gold. Aromas: Restrained spiced peach, lemon and hints of almonds and toasty oak. The mouthfeel is light-bodied, rounded off, with nice acidity and a bit of mid-palate sweetness. Peach, almond, amaretto and lemon flavors fade out nicely into a clean, crisp, citrusy finish. Closure: Composite plastic "cork". Retail: $9. Value: Excellent.

Domaine de la Fruitiere Cuvee Petit M Chateau Thebaud Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie 2004

"m" is promoted by Jon-David Headrick Selections, imported by USA Wine Imports. Located in the western Loire Valley, Domaine de la Fruitiere's hilltop vineyard is described as "25-50 year-old vines planted in soil rich with granite, mica, and schist". The composition is 100% melon de Bourgogne. 89.5 points. Melon, lemongrass and green apple aromas, a tart minerally palate and nice mouthfeel lead to a crisp mouthwatering finish. Here is an extraordinary palate cleanser (or perfect for a clambake). The closure is a real cork. (A screw cap would be a big plus.) At $13 (Nashville), this is a really good buy and a nice change of pace white.

Armand Roux Verdillac White Bordeaux 2004

Bercut-Vandervoort imports Verdillac Blanc, which is 70% Semillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc. 87.5 points.  The color is pale straw. The aromas are melony, grassy, a bit herbal, a bit floral, with some apple notes in the background. The mouthfeel is light, juicy, with barely any sugar, balanced with tartness, and displaying fresh cut fruit and mineral flavors. The finish is crisp. We tasted it by itself and with grilled chicken salad. The closure is a genuine cork. (A screw cap would be a plus.) The $10 Nashville price is a very good value.

E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2003

Guigal's 2003 Cotes du Rhone Blanc is 50% Viognier, 20% Roussane, 12% Marsanne, 8% Clairette, 8% Bourboulenc, and 2% Grenache Blanc.  The vines average 25 years old, and the vinification is all stainless steel. 88 points.  The color is a pale gold, bright. The aromas are pretty but the fruit is restrained (peach/apricot), plus there are hints of floral/honeysuckle. The flavors follow suit, with apple and peach fruit, tart acidity, and a mineral note. The mouthfeel is excellent, with nice body and structure. The finish is crisp, clean and totally dry. The closure is a real cork. (A screw cap would be an improvement). For $13 (Nashville price), this is a well-structured French white wine value not to be overlooked. This would be a great food wine as well.

M. Chapoutier Belleruche Cotes-Du-Rhone Blanc 2003

Paterno imports Chapoutier wines. Michel Chapoutier has been credited with transforming his family's Rhone Valley Winery to a leadership position, since he took over the business in 1990 (at age 26).

You will notice a Braille label on this and all Chapoutier's wines, revealing the maker, vintage, origin, and wine color. (Chapoutier introduced Braille labels in 1993). Belleruche Blanc wine is a blend of biodynamically-grown Bourboulenc, Clairette and Grenache Blanc, fermented and aged in stainless steel. 88 points.  The color is a light gold, bright. The aromas are restrained, with hints of apples, lemon, mineral and white pepper. The mouthfeel is full and rich, with tart fruit, good structure, and nice minerality. The finish is dry and well balanced. The closure is a real cork. (A screw cap would be an improvement). For $13 (Nashville price), this is a French white wine value not to be overlooked when it comes to seafood or chicken dishes, or appetizers.

Marc Kreydenweiss Andlau Riesling Alsace 2002

This wine was cultivated using strict biodynamic principles, and Estate bottled in Alsace, the cool appellation on the border of France and Germany.

Alsace is known for complex, dry, aromatic white wines. The color is pale gold, and the aromas and flavors include fresh apricot, honey, mineral, cold fruit blossoms, and orange peel. Dry, with nice body, tart acidity complements the aromatics. The finish reverberates. The closure is a genuine cork. A screw cap would be a plus. At $20 (Nashville), this is a very highly recommended French White to enjoy at least occasionally. If you haven't been to Alsace lately (I sure haven't), here is a good substitute.

Bruce Sanderson of Wine Spectator rated it 92 points in the 6-15-05 issue.

Serge Batard Domaine Les Hautes Noelles sur lie Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu 2002

Imported by North Berkeley Imports, this Muscadet Sur Lie was produced under the direction of Serge Batard. On the palate, this is a lively, fresh, slightly salty white wine, just a bit creamy. The aromas include fruity melon, pear and lemon. The finish is crisp and refreshing. The closure is a genuine cork. A screw cap would be a plus. At $12 (Nashville), here is a delicious light lively white to enjoy by itself, that will also go well with shellfish or mild fish dishes.

Domaine Pichot Vouvray 2004

Vineyard Brands imports this classic "slightly dry" white, Estate bottled from Chenin Blanc grapes in Vouvray, in the Loire region. Low yields, hand harvesting and barrel fermentation are employed to give the wine its authenticity. They call it "slightly dry" in France, although I would call it "off-dry". The aromas are honeydew, peach juice and a hint of spice. The palate is juicy and fresh, and the acidity balances the slight residual sugar in the finish. The closure is a genuine cork. A screw cap would be a further improvement. The Nashville price is $12, which is a good price on a genuine Estate bottled French white, for the right occasion (think Picnics, Summer porch gatherings, brunch fare).

Domaine de la Fruitiere Muscadet "Petit M" Sur Lie 2003

Jon-David Headrick Selections imports this Muscadet Sur Lie from Chateau-Thébaud overlooking the Maine river, where Domaine de la Fruitière's old vine Melon is planted on soil filled with granite, mica, and schist. 100% Melon de Bourgogne. The color is pale green golden color. The palate is lively with acidity and minerality, and then you get the crisp apple and peach fruit, and a creamy, smooth but nice and dry finish. Fruity for a Muscadet Sur Lie, and beautiful. The cork is a synthetic composite cork. (A screw cap would be better). At $12 (Nashville), this is currently a good deal in French whites.

Chateau de la Ragotiere Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie 2002

The Couillaud Brothers produce this dry, elegant and lively white wine, from a 60 acre Muscadet vineyard in the Loire Valley. Sevre et Maine refers to the two rivers running through the specific appellation. The wine is bottled directly off the lees from the fermentation barrel, hence the designation Sur Lie. Fresh and fruity (apples, pears, lemon-lime), this wine has a real lively mouthfeel from the remaining carbon dioxide from the Sur Lie treatment. The wine has a good amount of body for a white, the palate is smooth and balanced, slightly salty, and the finish is not hurried. We had a cheese tray and some crackers, but seafood would pair well.

The closure is a genuine cork.  At $10.99 (Nashville price), this measures up as a real bargain in a crisp dry white from France.