Languedoc-Roussillon (France) Red - 01/24/14

Languedoc-Roussillon is also known as Languedoc. It's a very under appreciated region in southern France. Languedoc is very close to the border between France and Spain, and has great influence by Mediterranean sea. Thanks to the special soil, combined with clay and sand, which made some of vines survived from the "Blight". We can enjoy the old vines in the tasting. Selected wines covers most of major grape verities in Languedoc-Roussillon. (Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, and etc)

1.  Syrah-Marselan, Deneufbourg - 2009
   visually purple color, the wine is still young. The wine shows a lots of  red fruits aromas, warm and fresh; subtle aromas of walnut stays in the glass when you finish it. Medium body to full body, smooth tannin; the barely noticeable touch of black pepper still reminds you the wine is mainly made from Syrah. It's most likely unoaked wine, a very exceptional Ven de Pays.
   
2.  Cinsault "Exordé," Clos Mathélisse - 2012
   The wine has some "animal" element; some people said horse and some said ox. I can say it's the element that may use in male fragrance. It also come with some over ripened fresh cut grapefruit and a little bit hint of cherry. feel a little bit carbon dioxide from the natural fermentation. It's very fruity, simple, and refresh.
   
3.  Faugères "Cuvée Courtiol," Clos Fantine - 2011
   The wine has very dark color and some sort of ink smell. It's interesting that the wine is fermented and aged in the concrete vats before bottled. By smelling the wine, you can feel it's very deep. Not surprisingly, the wine is full body, high tannin, and firm structure. Maybe it's not my favorite wine, but it's unique. worth trying.
   
4.  Mas de Daumas Gassac, Rouge - 2011
   This is the first bottle I can sense some vanilla. fresh berries and herbals. It tastes very "Bordeaux style" It's very good quality wine, but too "safe".
   
5.  Fin Amour, Côtes Catalanes - 2008
   Orange color on the rim. Very strong coconut and vanilla aromas; it's definitely aged in new oak. Fresh berries, and the sweetness from the alcohol. It's a very mouth filling wine. For me, I can felt the fight between hundred-year-old vine and the new barrel. It's a little too much for the night.

The 23nd Wine Tasting (2013-05-17) - Italy (Super Tuscan)

Sangiovese, is from the Latin sanguis Jovis, which means the blood of Jove. Jove (or Jupiter) is the god of sky and thunder (equivalent to Greek Zeus). It's also the most important grape variety in Tuscany (in Italy: Toscana). We tasted Super Tuscan, an non-official category from Tuscany. Regardless of the Chianti regulation, Super Tuscan wine producers had experimental wine-making to use either 100% Sangiovese, or blend with any number of local or international varieties: for instance, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot.

The 22nd Wine Tasting (2013-05-17) - France (Bordeaux Right Bank)

I had a very tough month, busy at work and defeated by allergy attack. Words can not describe my happiness of survival, and these wines were the best rewards.

The 21st Wine Tasting (2013-04-20) - Hungary - (Red)

Siege of Eger (1552), it was a major victory during the war between Hungary and Ottoman Empire. During the Siege of Eger, soldiers were supported and motivated with food and a lots of red wines. There was rumors among Turkish soldiers saying Hungarians drink bull's blood, so theyare tough and resisted firmly. Finally, the Turkish troops gave up at the moment. No one can explain this mystery victory. As a result, red wines in Eger earned the name, Egri Bikavér (Bull's Blood). Regarding history, Ottoman empire still conquered Hungary few years later.

Tasting Note: Pinot Nior (2013-04-10)

Speaking of my favorite wines, Pinot Noir is always on top of any reds. Four years ago, I was about to get home, and one of my neighbors just opened a bottle of American Pinot Noir. I smelled the most breathtaking perfumed aromas, so I drank my first bottle of Pinot Noir. Then, I started a long journey of Pinot Noir tasting for one year. Some wines are just perfect, but you can't sense its heart; some wines touch your soul with illusion. This is a matched wine I'm looking for.  I don't like the following quote, but it is so true about Pinot Noir: "the most romantic of wines, with so voluptuous a perfume, so sweet an edge, and so powerful a punch that, like falling in love, they make the blood run hot and the soul wax embarrassingly poetic." (an American men's fashion magazine)

The 9th Wine Tasting (2012-06-29) - New Zealand - (whites & red)

New Zealand considered as one of the New World Wine producing countries. It started growing vines in the mid 1800s. The oldest vine was planted by French Roman Catholic missionaries in Hawkes Bay. Even though the wine making history is short, New Zealand's Sauvignon Blanc in Marlborough has earned its recognition internationally; "arguably the best in the world" (Rachman, British wine critic, 1990s ).

Tasting Note: Chinon AOC (2013-03-28)

I just finished another 3 days tasting this week. This week, I picked wines from the Chinon, where is part of the Loire Valley (France). My decision happened when I wrote the review of Loire whites. It is unusual for the Loire Valley (known as whites) that the Chinon produces mostly red wine, 2 to 5% rosé, and a little white wines. Plus, I had a good Chinon dinning with a friend. Therefore, the Chinon reds were served.

The 7th Wine Tasting (2012-05-04) - Spain (Rioja) - (Red)

I still can remember my first red wine; I didn't like it, but I don't remember why? Either my dad added water to my wine, or it's not possible that an elementary school kid would like wines. However, I do remember when and where I started to enjoy wines again. CORRAL DE LA MORERÍA in 2005, the restaurant in Madrid where I discovered the joy of wines; a Spanish Wine. 2008, my friend bought me a bottle of US Tempranillo, and I knew I'm close. 2011, a gift from Rioja guided me to the endless journey.

每個旅途都有起點，不時想起出發的原因，就算置身茫茫大海也不會迷路。現在和我一起辦品酒的人，雖然我們的起點不一樣，但結果都是在這條偉大的航路上相逢了。他因為葡萄酒愛上美食；我因為美食愛上葡萄酒。2005西班牙馬德里，我喝下了這條不歸路的起點，我當時並不知道，只是第一次覺得葡萄酒這麼好喝，這是一道料理時間非常長的一道菜。我並沒有馬上就開始品酒，但已經不時將葡萄酒加到生活當中。不知不覺就蓋起了這扇以葡萄酒為記憶鑰匙的門。中間曾經很接近過，在我找到這鑰匙之前最常喝的是葡萄牙的酒，終於，2011開始了謙虛的學習之旅。

Tasting Note: Meritage (2013-03-20)

After I mentioned the Bordeaux blend, it just remained me an American blend that I have never tried, Meritage. Therefore, I went to the store nearby and found these two bottles.

The 4th Wine Tasting (2012-02-03) - Argentina - Malbec (Red)

Argentina is one of the biggest wine-producing country. Most vineyards are located around dry mountain area, and Mendoza is the most important wine region. Lujan de Cuyo in Mendoza became the first officially recognized controlled appellation in 1993. The most famous and widely grown grape variety is Malbec; Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Torrontés follow closely.

The 2nd Wine Tasting (2011-12-09) - France (Southern Rhône Valley)- (Red)

The Rhône Valley is one of the key wine region in France, locates at southeastern France. The Rhône is divided into two sub-regions, the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône. They are separated by a 25-mile (40-km) gap, where almost no vines are grown. This gap not only separate the geography, but also grape varieties. All the affect the quality and quantity of wines produced. This wine tasting was only focus on Southern Rhône red wines.