Joe's January Sommelier Series will feature a few of the
finest selections from the Rhone Valley of France, a region known for savory
wines with unlimited pairing potential.
We'll be pouring January 18-24, come on in and experience what this
amazing region has to offer!
The Rhone valley runs from Vienne in the north to Avignon in
the south, and the region is distinctly different from top to bottom. The
region of Condrieu is tucked away in the far north, producing very unique
bottlings from solely Viognier grapes. The wines offer inviting aromatics of
white flowers and stone fruit. While
full on the palate, they finish clean and dry. The E. Guigal, Condrieu,
France ($14 3oz / $28 6oz) pairs nicely with our Dover Sole, and offers
a great opportunity to sample one of these rare gems.
Chateauneuf-du-Pape is in the southern part of the Rhone
Valley, and is primarily considered an area for producing red wines. Château de Beaucastel (Blanc),
Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France ($20 3oz / $40 6oz) is crafted using a
significant percentage of Roussanne grapes, which give the wine intoxicating
aromas of acacia flowers and honey. Grenache Blanc accounts for the remainder, providing
tremendous vigor and finesse, and creates a perfect match for our Broiled
Swordfish with Smoked Butter.
Gigondas is famous for its intense
northern 'Mistral' winds, vineyards covered by large 'galet' stones, and
limestone-rich soil. The 2011 Domaine Raspail-Ay, Gigondas, France ($8
3oz / $16 6oz) offers amazing quality at this price. With complex
layers of cherries and red fruits, partnered with lavender and black pepper,
this luscious and juicy offering is made for our Double-Cut Colorado Lamb
Chops.
Still wines will, for the most part, state their vintage
date on the bottle. In the case of Domaine
du Pégau, Plan Pegau, France ($12 6oz), Laurence Féraud (Vigneron)
elects to blend several vintages together, which creates a style of wine with
very little variation from one year to the next. This delicious red is made up of
grape varietals not typical for the region, and is available for immediate
consumption. The bright red fruit create
the perfect pairing for Herb Roasted Chicken.
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