September 3, 2010 12:45 pm
Shiraz has always been one of my favorite varietals. Full of luscious berry flavors and soft spices, it's a versatile wine that pairs well with a variety of foods and can be drunk now or stored. Until recent years, Shiraz (also known as Syrah) was notorious for making Rhône Valley wines so popular. But these days, some of the finest bottles of Shiraz are coming from Australia, where it remains the most widely planted varietal.
After tasting Shiraz from all over the world, Xavier Flouret's 2009 Waroo stands out both in flavor and value. This Western Australian wine has a bright garnet color, while intense aromas of blackberries, plums and white pepper nearly jump out of the glass. Malolactic fermentation and 8 months of barrel aging give this wine a soft, mouth-filling and velvety texture with smooth flavors of earthy red berries.
We'll be bringing a bottle (or two) of this food-friendly wine to barbecues this weekend to pair with anything from grilled meats to soft cheeses. Cheers!
Photo credit: Cognac One
— Written by Lisa Curry
0 Comments >
Tags : Xavier Flouret, Cognac One, Waroo, 2009, Shiraz, Syrah, Lisa Curry
June 18, 2010 9:16 am
Rosé has always been a classic summer wine. With crisp, refreshing and fruity flavors, a good rosé can be hard to beat. But unfortunately, finding a good bottle is often difficult, and people often mistakenly end up with a bottle (or box) or disappointing White Zinfandel. This is why when we find a bottle we like, we stick with it.
Our Wine of the Day is Xavier Flouret's Nationale 7 Rosé. A classic Côtes de Provence, the wine is made from fruit ripened on 40-year old vines and aged in stainless steel tanks to give it a fresh, crisp flavor. Made from a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Tibouren, the wine has clean floral aromas with a hint of minerality. On the palate, the wine has flavors of juicy red berries which are balanced out by soft citrus notes. We pair this wine with raw shellfish or soft cheeses, but it can also stand up to richer dishes like chicken or even foie gras. In any case, you can bet that this summer, we'll be drinking pink.
Photo credit: Cognac One
— Written by Lisa Curry
0 Comments >
Tags : Cognac One, Xavier Flouret, Nationale 7, Rose, Wine, Lisa Curry
May 28, 2010 10:10 am
When the sun starts shining and the mercury rises, most of us turn to Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay or a good rosé to cool down with. But if you're getting bored with these standard varietals and are looking for something new, we've got you covered with our Wine of the Day: Xavier Flouret Flaca Torrontés.
Although it's yet to become a popular varietal in America, Torrontés is considered to be the flagship grape of Argentina. This wine is highly aromatic, bursting with scents of white peaches, apricots and honeysuckle. Although the aromas are fruity and floral, this wine maintains a fresh, balanced acidity on the palate, making it the perfect summer sipping wine. Tip: Try pairing this wine with chilled shellfish, salad or goat cheese.
Photo credit: Xavier Flouret Wines
— Written by Lisa Curry
1 Comments >
Tags : Xavier Flouret, Torrontes, Lisa Curry, Argentina, Wine
Subscribe to our Feed >
Join Our Facebook Group >
Follow us on twitter >
View our Flickr Photostream >
