Always one to look forward to, importer/distributor David Bowler's portfolio has a lot to offer. At the top of the leader board are the wines from my favorite importer, Joe Dressner. Most of his producers are in attendance and this gives me a chance to become reaccquainted with some that I have met before in France. I wish I had some kind of command of French as many of hiss vignerons have limited English and I have many questions.
 |
| David Bowler with Arianna Occipinti from Sicilia. |
While tasting the wines of Marc Ollivier of Domaine de la Pepiere in the Nantes region of the Atlantic coast section of the Loire river, I told him that his Clos Briord Muscadet, a bright, tangy mineral/citrus driven white has been one of my personal favorites over the last few years. He liked that news. Marc also introduced a new sparkling wine made from the local grape, melon de bourgogne. It was just a bit sweet, the opposite of his bone dry Muscadet's, and should make a fine appertif.
 |
| Marc Ollivier of Domaine de la Pepiere. Making some of the tastiest everyday wines. |
A newcomer to the portfolio was the young exuberance of Patrick Piuze of Chablis. Chablis is the oft misunderstood white wine region in the northernmost area of Burgundy, not the jug wine from California. Chablis makes lean, dry, unwooded wines from chardonnay. Every sip offers tangy lemon and nervy mineral flavors. Piuze's were exceptional, focused and well priced.
 |
| Jean-Paul Brun and his collection of exceptional cru Beaujolais. |
Another nice addition were the wines from top importer Robert Kacher who has been bouncing around from various distributors. Let's hope he finds a home with Bowler. Karcher's wine are primarily from France and largely offer some spectacular values like Domaine Tariquet's perky Cotes de Gascogne, ugni blanc/colombard blend.
 |
| Damien Coquelet, the new face in Beaujolais |
 |
| Coquelet's stylish label from the village of Chiroubles. |
Herve Villemade is the type of classic, small family run winery in France worth a mention. Outside of some clever retailers and restaurants, his wines from the village of Cheverny in the Loire valley are virtually unknown. These are not collector wines, but are cherished for being so fitting for everyday life and the dinner table.
 |
| Herve Villemade |
 |
| Villemade's Cheverny blanc label. |
No comments:
Post a Comment