2020 FRANCIS BLANCHET POUILLY FUME “KRIOTINE” - LOIRE VALLEY, FRANCE
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Winemaking details: Domaine Francis Blanchet is a small estate in the villiage of St. Andelain in the heart of Pouilly-Fumé in the Loire Valley. This village is known for having the highest concentrations of silex in the soil out of the entire appellation, lending to mineral driven expressions in the wine. Francis now works the land with his son, Mathieu, who is now the 8th generation winemaker in the family. Many of the vines they tend are massal selection plantings from original rootstock planted by Francis Blanchet’s grandparents, and following DNA testing, they have proved to be some of the oldest existing clones of Sauvignon Blanc. This bottling, “Kriotine”, is a fantasy name inspired by the word “criot” which in local dialect describes a vineyard terroir with many white stones. After hand harvesting, the grapes are pressed gently to tank via gravity and fermented by native yeasts. They never use oak, and keep the fermentations cool to preserve freshness. The wine is aged on fine lees for 6 months in tank, and bottling after a light fining with bentonite and a light filtration.
Color: Pale yellow
Bouquet: Lemon pith, lychee, gunpowder, white nectarine, Asian pear
Palate: This is a great summer simmer, and an incredible value for the quality. The palate is full with a soft texture, and medium plus acidity. There is tension, verve and bright minerality, and the notes of fresh green and yellow fruits, light flowers, and subtle flinty smoke mingle throughout the palate and the long finish. Another bonus is that this is an incredibly versatile food wine! Pair this with almost any non stinky cheese, fresh fruits, charcuterie, seafood, salads, poultry, and even spicy fare, like Thai papaya salad.
While in a perfect place to drink now as we get into warmer weather, this wine could age 3-5 more years if desired.
Further information can be found here: Domaine Francis Blanchet
2019 MARTINELLE VENTOUX ROUGE - RHONE VALLEY, FRANCE
GRENACHE, SYRAH, CINSAUT, AND CARIGNAN
Winemaking details: Located due east from the mountain vineyards of Gigondas, Ventoux is one of the coolest and most biodiverse appellations in the Rhone Valley, named after the 1,912-meter Mont Ventoux at the core of the region. While many of the vineyards are located on alluvial lowlands, this estate is in the more mountainous eastern part, and widely known as the highest-quality growing area. The regional cold winds from the Alps keeps temperatures cool during the growing season, and paired with higher elevation, they see an extended growing season. Winemaker Corinna Faravel purchase the estate in 2002 (the vineyards have been cared for organically from the founding of the estate and are now certified), and has become one of the most respected micro-wineries in the area. The vineyards are planted on series of small, terraced hillsides that run from 810 to 900 ft elevation on soils that are a mix of limestone, clay, and gypsum. Grapes are harvested by hand and fermented in cement tanks on indigenous yeasts in a cellar built into the hillside. Wine is aged in unlined cement tanks on fine lees, with very little sulfur added during the vinification process, and is bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Color: Deep garnet
Bouquet: Plum, loganberry, wild raspberry, sage, anise, crushed white pepper, wet leaves, wet rock
Palate: While this is quite a classic Rhone blend, and has the power and structure one would expect, this wine drinks with a lovely freshness, elegance, and focus, that makes this blend stand out. The tannins are soft, there is plenty of acid and juicy fruits, and everything is balanced out by earthy and spicy notes. Pair this wine with herby, smokey, and grilled dishes, from veggies to poultry to wild game.
This wine could age another 5-7 years and develop more tertiary notes, but for a refreshing, juicy, fun sipper, drink within a year.
Further information can be found here: Martinelle