So Monday morning, myself and another MW student were picked up at the hotel AXA so generously secured for us by the very handsome and charming technical manager, Cedric Loiseau. Grapes planted include Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, and Carignan. Christian Seely just posted a video of blending at Mas Belles Eaux. The Winery.

Some caramel notes, but also a bunch of freshly picked white honeysuckle. It was a red fruit mash at first - I would have guessed a Grenache heavy wine from further south had I tasted it blind. Been busy and not able to write as often, but please don't think that means I've been starving and not drinking anything interesting.

You would pick up the book, look up Pinot Noir (found on page 32), and read the following: Pinot Noir. So you pick up the illustrated card key (presented by family, such as "fruity," "floral," "vegetal," "animal," and "roasted). Picking up a glass, she attempted to note its characteristics. Quick! Wine, of course. Well done!"

So, on my last wine shopping spree I picked up a bottle of E.Guigal Gigondas 2007 ( $24 ) Gigondas is situated right under the rugged, rocky range of the Dentelles de Montmirail. Tonight I decided to open up and sip on my lone bottle of French wine, the Gigondas, a blend of Grenache (60%), Mourvèdre (30%), and Syrah (10%).

Now I get to pick my favorites from 2011. There were also some very nice Cabernet Francs from the Finger Lakes and surprisingly my pick for Best Red Wine is from the Finger Lakes. blend of 40% Grenache, 25% Cinsault, 15% Carignan, 10% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. should be back on track after the holiday season.

The reception, lunch, and tasting was held at the very elegant winery of Bouchard Finlayson, which is described as “a boutique winery” yet looks like a Bel-Air mansion or a 5-star hotel in Beverly Hills – take your pick. He offers three handcrafted wines – sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, and a syrah based blend called ‘Serenity.’ link].

Julian, one of the friendly AXA staff people, picked myself and another student up from our station in a shimmering black car, and as if to highlight the drama of our destination, swirled the car into the impressive lengthy driveway of Chateau Pichon Longueville, where we would stay during our visit and dine tonight. Perfect Berries.

Clairette and Ugni blanc have become the dominate grape varieties with some smaller plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Mouvedre and Syrah. blend of 40% Grenache, 25% Cinsault, 15% Carignan, 10% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon Aromas are still kinky. Wine from Algeria! Who would'a thunk. Uh Oh, where's the grapes?

This is a tiny town in the Northern Rhone, famous for its red wine made from Syrah and white from Viognier. liked the Cote du Ventoux Rouge 2009 (60% syrah, 30% grenache, 20% others) with its blueberry flavors, yet went wild for the white Muscat d Beaumes de Venise 2008. Imagine yourself in Ampuis in 1781.

First is a white grenache/rousanne blend (owned by Fess Parker in past). of grenache blanc people thought they were crazy. Tensley Wines 2009 Vineyard Syrah - opaque purple, on the nose intense minerality, On the palate, cool mint, intense earth and minerals, rich concentrated fruit, with finish of very intense earth and fruit.

Picking a wine that will work with a turkey dinner can be tricky, here are six Rosés that will do the job without overpowering the dish: Carpineto Rosato 2007 Bouquet: floral characteristics, particularly rose, acacia and grape flowers; fruity fragrances like apple, currant and sour cherry are evident.

Wine Spectator's #1 pick is James Berry Vineyard Saxum Paso Robles 2007 , 98 points and listed at $67, already up to $250 at auction sites, blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. Rex Pickett, who wrote Sideways, which later became a wine lover's movie, has written a sequel to be released on November 23, 2010 called Vertical.

So Monday morning, myself and another MW student were picked up at the hotel AXA so generously secured for us by the very handsome and charming technical manager, Cedric Loiseau. Grapes planted include Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, and Carignan. Visiting Mas Belles Eaux. The Winery. The Vineyards. mas grapes. bunches remain.

Julian, one of the friendly AXA staff people, picked myself and another student up from our station in a shimmering black car, and as if to highlight the drama of our destination, swirled the car into the impressive lengthy driveway of Chateau Pichon Longueville, where we would stay during our visit and dine tonight. The Control Room.

Winemaker Notes: " The grapes are picked at the coolest part of the day just before dawn, and then harvested and fermented separately to allow each variety's individual character to develop. Tonight I am finishing up my latest 3L box wine from the Octavin Home Wine Bar, Artisan Wines. The Seven finished smooth with some spice, but very short.

Here are the wines we tasted, with a few notes: Three of us picked the same wine as our favorite, the 2006 Delille Vin de Pays du Mont Caume Terre d' Omb re , $17, Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant. don't know the exact blend but it's lots of Mourvedre with some Grenache and Cinsault in there. But the inexpensive red wines of Provence?

Tempranillo and Garnacha (Grenache) still reign, yet you will find Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Vijura, Graciano, Moscatel, and others. Ana Laguna & Pilar Garcia-Granero. "Before there was wine, there was a thing called happiness." Navarra. Terroir of Navarra. They are: Baja Montana (highest and wettest, with the latest vintage).

If alcohol levels are higher now, then it seems clear that grapes are now picked at sugar levels that are higher than they used to be. Perhaps it was a collective decision to pick later, encouraging maximum ripeness. So what's else could be behind the increase in alcohol levels if it's not a conscious decision to pick later?

2006 Clarendon Hills Astralis Vineyard Shiraz (Syrah), McLaren Vale. Pannell Shiraz/Grenache, McLaren Vale. 1996 Clarendon Hills Astralis Vineyard Shiraz (Syrah), McLaren Vale. 1996 d’Arenberg The Ironstone Pressings Grenache/Shiraz, McLaren Vale. 2002 Castagna Genesis Syrah, Beechworth. Day One. Day Two.

If I had to pick only one rosé for the rest of the summer, so far this would be my pick. 40% Syrah, 30% each Grenache and Cinsault. There is a slightly peppery, salt pork nuance that I assume comes from the Syrah. 60% Mourvèdre, 20% Carignan, 15% Syrah, and 5% Grenache. Really a lovely wine.

This blend of 50% Grenache - 30% Syrah - 20% Cinsault comes from a couple in the Southern Rhone who make their wines biodynamically. Tags: Wine under $10 wine picks French wine Everybody always wants a good wine under $10. And that’s never been more true than now. But here are three reds from the South of France! tanks.

But one of the biggest plagues in the south these days is the huge expansion of syrah plantings in the vineyards here- not just in Châteauneuf du Pape, but also throughout the villages of the Côtes du Rhône. But what you do get with all this syrah being incorporated into the traditional blends in the south is dark color- black-purple wines.

This big blend of grenache, syrah and carignan, has that ripe, juicy quality from many of the wines of the region. Tags: Wine under $10 wine picks “Merry Christmas!&# I said to my aunt as she greeted us at the door for our annual wintry get together with my cousins. “Here’s 24 liters of wine!&# Standing tall.

It has benefited from several centuries history of vine breeding and winemaking, and has the ability to grow in an unique way three fantastic grape varieties, the Syrah in the North, the Grenache and Mourvèdre in the South. Terroir is a three fold concept: The most obvious first two are soils (and their interaction with vines.)

Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 This Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles, California is made from 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petite Sirah, 5% Syrah, 4% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot and 1% Malbec- quite an intense mix, but it works. This is an interesting pick. Here are 7 of my most recent favorite inexpensive but good wines.

The blend is Mourvedre, Carignan, and Grenache. This is a blend of Carignan, Syrah, and Grenache. BrooklynLady picked out sea water too, which I understood in the context of the mineral streak running underneath the fruit. I'm happy to tell you that these wines are even better with a meal than they were at the tasting.

Merlot, Cab, Syrah - been there done that. lighter wine than a Cab, merlot or Syrah, Barbera is said to be the most (or second most) planter varietal in Italy. It is used in blends (often with Rhone varietals such as grenache & Syrah) to add color to red wines. Come on Wine Tasting Guy, give us something unusual.

The base of most however is Grenache, often blended with Mourvedre, Syrah, & Cinsault. Next thing I wanted to touch upon were some interesting tidbits I picked up while speaking with many of the producers/winemakers. The tasting was seemingly co-sponsored by Le Du Wines and Alain Junguenet Selections. quick note about CDP.

This is hot weather France where hardy grapes thrive, like Grenache and Mourvedre, Cinsault and Carignan, and of course, Syrah. Do they permit varying percentages of Syrah, for example, or it is an elevation and wind thing? Here we are again folks, Wine Blogging Wednesday is upon us once more. Mid-priced Midi wines, if you will.