Tag: winemaker

Pinot Meunier Lands Lead Role in Champagne Laherte Frères!
Consider this your invitation to November’s opening of Champagne Laherte Frères Ultradition Brut. We’ve saved you a choice seat for this sparkling performance that has charmed critics around the globe.

Our BostonZest reviewers have nothing but praise for the delightful lead role so skillfully delivered by Pinot Meunier – usually offering a talented, but limited, supporting role in many a Champagne blend.

Here, the Laherte Frères Ultradition Brut blend is:

        60% Pinot Meunier

        30% Chardonnay

        10% Pinot Noir

We were impressed by:
- A toasty, chalky nose
- A big pop of flavor as soon as the wine hits your palate
- You might think it was a Rosé with that first burst of fruit – it was the Pinot Meunier taking a bow!
- Good acidity and tiny bubbles
- A lovely Champagne with a personality all its own
- This wine could develop a cult following
- We liked its flavor profile best when served at about 55º F
The winemaker points to, “… a subtle blend of our three varieties and the diversity of our Terroirs: a fine and complex blending with fruitiness and delicacy.”

Other applause from well-known reviewers:

– Wine Spectator, “Well-spiced and mouthwatering, offers a finely detailed bead and expressive flavors of black raspberry, dried apricot, orange blossom, fleur de sel and crystallized honey, minerally on the finish. 92 / 100.

– Antonio Galloni – Vinous: 90 /100

– Jancis Robinson: rating 16 / 20

It should also be said that this sparkler is imported by Oz Wine Company in Haverhill, MA. To us, seeing the Oz name on a bottle always means quality and that we’re likely to enjoy his selection.

We purchased our bottle of Champagne Laherte Frères Ultradition Brut at City Liquors in Cambridge for $45. Penny was told it has become a favorite of sommeliers in Europe.

Here’s to the very important month of November! Santé!

Related Posts:

Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post: Join Us as We Toast …

A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

Want to learn more about wine? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site! Here are three of our favorite wine books.

The Food Lover's Guide to Wine

The New Wine Lover's Companion

The Wine Bible

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Michael Serpa Selects Champagne Jacquesson Cuvée 736 as Our Sparkler for June 2015

Sunday Cat Sophia Says, "Let me in Whee-ooh …"

Thanks to Friends Who Make Marmalade and Share!

A Busy Season Resource: Our Poached Chicken Links
November 1, 2016
Pinot Meunier Lands Lead Role in Champagne Laherte Frères!
Consider this your invitation to November’s opening of Champagne Laherte Frères Ultradition Brut. We’ve saved you a choice seat for this sparkling performance that has charmed critics around the globe.

Our BostonZest reviewers have nothing but praise for the delightful lead role so skillfully delivered by Pinot Meunier – usually offering a talented, but limited, supporting role in many a Champagne blend.

Here, the Laherte Frères Ultradition Brut blend is:

        60% Pinot Meunier

        30% Chardonnay

        10% Pinot Noir

We were impressed by:
- A toasty, chalky nose
- A big pop of flavor as soon as the wine hits your palate
- You might think it was a Rosé with that first burst of fruit – it was the Pinot Meunier taking a bow!
- Good acidity and tiny bubbles
- A lovely Champagne with a personality all its own
- This wine could develop a cult following
- We liked its flavor profile best when served at about 55º F
The winemaker points to, “… a subtle blend of our three varieties and the diversity of our Terroirs: a fine and complex blending with fruitiness and delicacy.”

Other applause from well-known reviewers:

– Wine Spectator, “Well-spiced and mouthwatering, offers a finely detailed bead and expressive flavors of black raspberry, dried apricot, orange blossom, fleur de sel and crystallized honey, minerally on the finish. 92 / 100.

– Antonio Galloni – Vinous: 90 /100

– Jancis Robinson: rating 16 / 20

It should also be said that this sparkler is imported by Oz Wine Company in Haverhill, MA. To us, seeing the Oz name on a bottle always means quality and that we’re likely to enjoy his selection.

We purchased our bottle of Champagne Laherte Frères Ultradition Brut at City Liquors in Cambridge for $45. Penny was told it has become a favorite of sommeliers in Europe.

Here’s to the very important month of November! Santé!

Related Posts:

Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post: Join Us as We Toast …

A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

Want to learn more about wine? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site! Here are three of our favorite wine books.

The Food Lover's Guide to Wine

The New Wine Lover's Companion

The Wine Bible

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Michael Serpa Selects Champagne Jacquesson Cuvée 736 as Our Sparkler for June 2015

Sunday Cat Sophia Says, "Let me in Whee-ooh …"

Thanks to Friends Who Make Marmalade and Share!

A Busy Season Resource: Our Poached Chicken Links
November 1, 2016
Our October Sparkler Is Patrice Colin Les Perles Grises!

Another month means another wine to keep Our Sparkling Resolution to enjoy a glass of bubbles on the first of every month. This time Patrice Colin Les Perles Grises (Perles Grises = Grey Pearls) offered us both a winemaker and a grape we had never tried.

This food friendly rosé from France's Loire Valley is made from 100% Pineau d’Aunis. (This grape is also known as Chenin Noir but bears no resemblance to Chenin Blanc.) The production is biodynamic and the vineyard has been in the same family since the 1800s.

Here are a few comments about this sparkler that we found in our tasting research:

Carolyn Joy wrote, "Perles Grises is perfect on its own or with food. Its mid-bodied structure and balanced acidity allows for pairing with light white meats, seafood and shellfish as well as appetizers and desserts."

Palate Press says, "Very light, almost clear, copper color. The nose is interesting, a bouquet of white flowers and pencil shavings. On the palate it has huge flavors of pencil shavings with flint, rose water, pepper, and red currants. Smoke lingers on the finish. Pair with a fruit tart dessert."

Europa Wine Merchant wrote, "This bubbly made with the Pineau d’Aunis grape this has the varietal’s tell tale peppery quality along with scents of rose blossom, lilac, white raspberry, mirabelle plum and lanolin, firm, mineral, stony palate presence with pretty notes of small red berries, fresh herbs and a peppery finish all in Colin’s elegant style."

We sampled a bottle of this wine with friends and a table full of delicious seafood. The comments were positive and at the $15 price point it is certainly one we'll buy again.

Finding new wines to toast each new month keeps us on a constant treasure hunt. We seldom pass a wine shop without stopping in to explore its offerings. This wine came from City Liquors on one of our favorite blocks of Cambridge Street in Cambridge. (map)

Penny was pleased with both the selection and service when she stopped in while making routine visits to Mayflower Poultry, Petsi Pies, and New Deal Fish Market. It looks like she'll pack an extra quarter for the parking meter in future visits to this food and wine lovers block.

What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino, City Liquors photos from own site.

Related articles

Loving that Landaff Cheese: Welsh Style Flavor from New Hampshire

A Busy Season Resource: Our Poached Chicken Links

Michael Serpa Selects Champagne Jacquesson Cuvée 736 as Our Sparkler for June 2015

October 1, 2016
Our October Sparkler Is Patrice Colin Les Perles Grises!

Another month means another wine to keep Our Sparkling Resolution to enjoy a glass of bubbles on the first of every month. This time Patrice Colin Les Perles Grises (Perles Grises = Grey Pearls) offered us both a winemaker and a grape we had never tried.

This food friendly rosé from France's Loire Valley is made from 100% Pineau d’Aunis. (This grape is also known as Chenin Noir but bears no resemblance to Chenin Blanc.) The production is biodynamic and the vineyard has been in the same family since the 1800s.

Here are a few comments about this sparkler that we found in our tasting research:

Carolyn Joy wrote, "Perles Grises is perfect on its own or with food. Its mid-bodied structure and balanced acidity allows for pairing with light white meats, seafood and shellfish as well as appetizers and desserts."

Palate Press says, "Very light, almost clear, copper color. The nose is interesting, a bouquet of white flowers and pencil shavings. On the palate it has huge flavors of pencil shavings with flint, rose water, pepper, and red currants. Smoke lingers on the finish. Pair with a fruit tart dessert."

Europa Wine Merchant wrote, "This bubbly made with the Pineau d’Aunis grape this has the varietal’s tell tale peppery quality along with scents of rose blossom, lilac, white raspberry, mirabelle plum and lanolin, firm, mineral, stony palate presence with pretty notes of small red berries, fresh herbs and a peppery finish all in Colin’s elegant style."

We sampled a bottle of this wine with friends and a table full of delicious seafood. The comments were positive and at the $15 price point it is certainly one we'll buy again.

Finding new wines to toast each new month keeps us on a constant treasure hunt. We seldom pass a wine shop without stopping in to explore its offerings. This wine came from City Liquors on one of our favorite blocks of Cambridge Street in Cambridge. (map)

Penny was pleased with both the selection and service when she stopped in while making routine visits to Mayflower Poultry, Petsi Pies, and New Deal Fish Market. It looks like she'll pack an extra quarter for the parking meter in future visits to this food and wine lovers block.

What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino, City Liquors photos from own site.

Related articles

Loving that Landaff Cheese: Welsh Style Flavor from New Hampshire

A Busy Season Resource: Our Poached Chicken Links

Michael Serpa Selects Champagne Jacquesson Cuvée 736 as Our Sparkler for June 2015

October 1, 2016
December Sparkles with Chateau de l’Eperonniere, Crémant de Loire

We’re celebrating the arrival of December with an exceptional sparkler. Chateau de l’Eperonniere, Crémant de Loire 2009 is from the vineyards of Mathieu Tijou, the latest in his family to carry on the tradition of winemaking.

Mathieu Tijou (Foreground), Neal Rosenthal (background left)

As with his father, Mathieu has continued to work with importer Neal Rosenthal, a name you will know well from reading our BostonZest wine posts. Through the years, we have come to trust and rely on wines that display the Rosenthal name. And, this Crémant reinforces that claim.

Penny thinks, “this Cremant is addictive!”

Ed says, “very balanced, and food friendly.”

We had it with Neals Yard Dairy Berkswell (sheeps milk cheese), Landaff (cows milk cheese/aged at Jasper Hill), Parmigiano-Reggiano, and Sardinian parchment crackers.

Penny says, “when you sip, it’s sweet and tart at the same time – usually I taste one followed by other.”

One of our sparkling wine/champagne mottos is to “drink slowly and sip through the temperatures,” to experience all the wine has to offer. That advise certainly applies here.

If you’re a Crémant fan, we think you’ll be impressed with this wine. If you’ve never tried a Crémant, this would be a memorable introduction to the sparkler.

Here’s to December! May it be as wonderful as our bottle of Chateau de l’Eperonniere, Crémant de Loire.

Discover more about Our Sparkling Resolution

And, Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List

We purchased our bottle of Chateau de l’Eperonniere, Crémant de Loire 2009 at Bauer Wine & Spirits.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino, Image of Mathieu Tijou & Neal Rosenthal courtesy of www.madrose.com

December 1, 2014
Toasting a Sparkling December!

Long ago, we decided that we weren’t waiting for New Years Eve to raise a glass of sparkling wine and toast a happy ending and new beginning. So we’ve started each month with a bottle of bubbles since 2007! And, we’ve been sharing our bubbly selections with BostonZest readers since New Years Eve 2009.

That means we have amassed quite a collection of wine recommendations. They are all available any time you want them from the “Sparkling Wine & More” tab at the top of each page.

With a month of gift buying, parties, and holidays in front of us, we’ll say “Happy New Month,” sip a glass of Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco, and link you to a few bottles you might add to your holiday shopping list.

A Case of Sparkle

Ordering a case of a good, inexpensive, sparkling wine can be a great idea this time of year. Many shops will give you a case discount. If the store does not promote it, ask. You can also call ahead and have the wine merchant bring in the extra case of the wine you want.

We can suggest Dibon Cava, Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs, or the Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco we’re opening this month.

Pre-wrap a few bottles and you will be prepared for hostess gifts, thank you gifts, client gifts, or something special to hand out with a holiday cash tip.

Gift Wines For Wine Lovers

For someone who loves wine and would like to try something that will expand their wine life list or add a new category of taste to their holdiay, we would splurge on a “Grower Champagne.”

Central Bottle in Central Square Cambridge always seems to have a supply of these special bottles on hand. We recommend both the Champagne Chartogne-Taillet and Pierre Peters shown from ledgendary importer and wine educator Terry Theise. His annual catalogs are available online and provide a champagne education.

Pink for Romance!

Wrap up a romantic evening with the gift of a pink sparkler. It can be a value priced Louis Bouillot Rosé cremant. Or a splurge with a bottle of Delamotte Brut Rose from the maker of Salon Champagne.

Other pinks that tickle our fancy are Argyle Brut Rosé from Oregon, 3B Sparkling Rosé from Portuguese winemaker Filipa Pato, and for the utlimate fun evening try opening a bottle of Puro Rosé! (We had to make a video to show you how to open this one.)

Please add to our list by telling us about your favorite sparkling wine for the holidays. You can add a comment at the bottom of this post, sent it to @bostonzest on twitter or send us an email.

Want to learn more about wine? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site! Here are three of our favorite wine books.

The Food Lover’s Guide to Wine

The New Wine Lover’s Companion

The Wine Bible

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2009-2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

Related articles

Argyle Brut Rosé – a Treat to Greet November!

Check Out Our Wine List for Thanksgiving & Holiday Gatherings!

The best of West Coast sparkling wine

Another hotel caught serving sparkling wine to guests

Champagne Cocktail Ideas & Holiday Champagne Cocktail | Pottery Barn

December 1, 2012
Toasting a Sparkling December!

Long ago, we decided that we weren’t waiting for New Years Eve to raise a glass of sparkling wine and toast a happy ending and new beginning. So we’ve started each month with a bottle of bubbles since 2007! And, we’ve been sharing our bubbly selections with BostonZest readers since New Years Eve 2009.

That means we have amassed quite a collection of wine recommendations. They are all available any time you want them from the “Sparkling Wine & More” tab at the top of each page.

With a month of gift buying, parties, and holidays in front of us, we’ll say “Happy New Month,” sip a glass of Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco, and link you to a few bottles you might add to your holiday shopping list.

A Case of Sparkle

Ordering a case of a good, inexpensive, sparkling wine can be a great idea this time of year. Many shops will give you a case discount. If the store does not promote it, ask. You can also call ahead and have the wine merchant bring in the extra case of the wine you want.

We can suggest Dibon Cava, Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs, or the Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco we’re opening this month.

Pre-wrap a few bottles and you will be prepared for hostess gifts, thank you gifts, client gifts, or something special to hand out with a holiday cash tip.

Gift Wines For Wine Lovers

For someone who loves wine and would like to try something that will expand their wine life list or add a new category of taste to their holdiay, we would splurge on a “Grower Champagne.”

Central Bottle in Central Square Cambridge always seems to have a supply of these special bottles on hand. We recommend both the Champagne Chartogne-Taillet and Pierre Peters shown from ledgendary importer and wine educator Terry Theise. His annual catalogs are available online and provide a champagne education.

Pink for Romance!

Wrap up a romantic evening with the gift of a pink sparkler. It can be a value priced Louis Bouillot Rosé cremant. Or a splurge with a bottle of Delamotte Brut Rose from the maker of Salon Champagne.

Other pinks that tickle our fancy are Argyle Brut Rosé from Oregon, 3B Sparkling Rosé from Portuguese winemaker Filipa Pato, and for the utlimate fun evening try opening a bottle of Puro Rosé! (We had to make a video to show you how to open this one.)

Please add to our list by telling us about your favorite sparkling wine for the holidays. You can add a comment at the bottom of this post, sent it to @bostonzest on twitter or send us an email.

Want to learn more about wine? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site! Here are three of our favorite wine books.

The Food Lover’s Guide to Wine

The New Wine Lover’s Companion

The Wine Bible

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2009-2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

Related articles

Argyle Brut Rosé – a Treat to Greet November!

Check Out Our Wine List for Thanksgiving & Holiday Gatherings!

The best of West Coast sparkling wine

Another hotel caught serving sparkling wine to guests

Champagne Cocktail Ideas & Holiday Champagne Cocktail | Pottery Barn

December 1, 2012
Toasting a Sparkling December!

Long ago, we decided that we weren’t waiting for New Years Eve to raise a glass of sparkling wine and toast a happy ending and new beginning. So we’ve started each month with a bottle of bubbles since 2007! And, we’ve been sharing our bubbly selections with BostonZest readers since New Years Eve 2009.

That means we have amassed quite a collection of wine recommendations. They are all available any time you want them from the “Sparkling Wine & More” tab at the top of each page.

With a month of gift buying, parties, and holidays in front of us, we’ll say “Happy New Month,” sip a glass of Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco, and link you to a few bottles you might add to your holiday shopping list.

A Case of Sparkle

Ordering a case of a good, inexpensive, sparkling wine can be a great idea this time of year. Many shops will give you a case discount. If the store does not promote it, ask. You can also call ahead and have the wine merchant bring in the extra case of the wine you want.

We can suggest Dibon Cava, Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs, or the Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco we’re opening this month.

Pre-wrap a few bottles and you will be prepared for hostess gifts, thank you gifts, client gifts, or something special to hand out with a holiday cash tip.

Gift Wines For Wine Lovers

For someone who loves wine and would like to try something that will expand their wine life list or add a new category of taste to their holdiay, we would splurge on a “Grower Champagne.”

Central Bottle in Central Square Cambridge always seems to have a supply of these special bottles on hand. We recommend both the Champagne Chartogne-Taillet and Pierre Peters shown from ledgendary importer and wine educator Terry Theise. His annual catalogs are available online and provide a champagne education.

Pink for Romance!

Wrap up a romantic evening with the gift of a pink sparkler. It can be a value priced Louis Bouillot Rosé cremant. Or a splurge with a bottle of Delamotte Brut Rose from the maker of Salon Champagne.

Other pinks that tickle our fancy are Argyle Brut Rosé from Oregon, 3B Sparkling Rosé from Portuguese winemaker Filipa Pato, and for the utlimate fun evening try opening a bottle of Puro Rosé! (We had to make a video to show you how to open this one.)

Please add to our list by telling us about your favorite sparkling wine for the holidays. You can add a comment at the bottom of this post, sent it to @bostonzest on twitter or send us an email.

Want to learn more about wine? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site! Here are three of our favorite wine books.

The Food Lover’s Guide to Wine

The New Wine Lover’s Companion

The Wine Bible

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2009-2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

Related articles

Argyle Brut Rosé – a Treat to Greet November!

Check Out Our Wine List for Thanksgiving & Holiday Gatherings!

The best of West Coast sparkling wine

Another hotel caught serving sparkling wine to guests

Champagne Cocktail Ideas & Holiday Champagne Cocktail | Pottery Barn

December 1, 2012
Toasting May with Thierry Triolet Champagne at the Beach!

While enjoying a bottle of Thierry Triolet Champagne Brut is a treat in itself, popping the cork at a beach in Provincetown elevates the entire experience to the level of “unforgettable.”

As we faithfully carry out Our Sparkling Resolution (raising a glass of bubbly to greet each new month) we’re always open to pushing the boundaries of our pledge.

We found this special sparkler at Perry’s Wine & Liquors in Provincetown where Scott O’Connor described Thierry Triolet Champagne Brut as creamy and a great value at $36.

Penny remembered the wine from a tweet by Gretchen (@MoralBeast) who called it, “… a remarkable Champagne! Dry but not too dry. It's a wonderful balance [with] an explosion of flavor!" Her brand new website is Urban Wine Dweller.

Despite our preference for pinot-forward sparkling wines, this beauty’s 60% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, and 5% Pinot Meunier held our attention from the first sip. The winemaker puts it simply and best, “… pale yellow with hints of amber is expressed on fresh and fruity notes.”

Our bottle didn’t last long. It was so good, we couldn’t resist sharing with our neighbors at the beach.

Thierry Triolet, a small grower who supplies grapes to major Champagne houses, also has been making his own wine for more than 25 years– which means we have a lot of catching up to do.

If this Champagne Brut is any indication of Thierry Triolet’s passion and expertise, we can’t wait to try his other vintages. Back in Boston, we followed Gretchen's trail to TerraVino Wines in Brookline and happily found another bottle to enjoy today.

Update: Sadly TerraVino Wines is no longer in business.

Check Out: Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List

More about Our Sparkling Resolution

Finally, more of our Provincetown Posts!

We have a new favorite wine book that we are not only recommending to our readers, but buying as a gift for wine-loving friends. It's a treasure and we expect it to look a bit worn and well-used pretty quickly. It may even suffer a few wine stains but we doubt that Karen and Andrew will mind.

The Food Lover's Guide to Wine

Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Here are more books from this team:

The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of America's Most Imaginative Chefs

What to Drink with What You Eat: The Definitive Guide to Pairing Food with Wine, Beer, Spirits, Coffee, Tea – Even Water – Based on Expert Advice from America's Best Sommeliers

Becoming a Chef

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

May 1, 2012
Plan Pégau 2009 “Baby Chateauneuf du Pape”

A couple of bottles of Plan Pégau 2009 were sitting in our wine rack. This wine had been introduced to us as a "baby Chateauneuf du Pape" by Howie Rubin at Bauer Wines.

A few nights later, Gretchen Jones (@moralbeast) mentioned a great Cote du Rhone that she was enjoying. That sent me to the rack to pull the Plan Pégau and plan a meal around it.

As students of wine, we learn by researching the wines that come our way. We had already been told that this was from one of the great Chateauneuf du Pape winemakers, Laurence Féraud from Domaine du Pégau. Her wines can run four to five times the $14.99 price tag on this one.

The importer, Hand Picked Selections (HPS) says the 2009 Plan Pégau, "offers a true and loud echo of the flavor and style of Domaine du Pegau Châteauneuf-du-Pape. A perfect illustration of the HPS mantra of quality, character and value, it always seems to have a bit of that magic Châteauneuf funk!"

We paired it with a rib eye after reading a comment from Wine & Spirits Magazine that this wine was, "…a red to sink your teeth into…mouthfilling and delicious, the vinous equivalent of a good aged steak."

From the moment we opened the screwtop, Plan Pégau made an impression. Photographing it was torture. It has a big presence and was sending out enticing aromas that made us want to get straight to tasting.

From this one we learned about rapé.

Blogger Edmonton Wine Host ran a post on Plan Pégau and reported that it might contain some rapé from Pégau. He explained, "Rape means left over juice, skins or crush from a previous harvest. Also can be a winery way of 'disposing' of extra juice from an excellent harvest."

We knew about second labels, like Oregon superstar producer Owen Roe Winery's O'Reilly's line. Now we know about another way to hunt for unexpected quality at a great price. Find out if it is the baby sister in a great family.

We plan to buy more!

If you see this wine at a good price, grab it. We loved it and expect it will be just as good over the next couple of years.

What's on your wine shopping list? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often those add a great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

March 6, 2012