I Love French Wine and Food - A Maconnais (Burgundy) Chardonnay
Among France's eleven wine-growing regions Burgundy ranks fourth in acreage if you include the Beaujolais region, which most people do in spite of their considerable differences. Partisans, and they are many, claim that Burgundy is really the number one or number two wine-producing region in France, if not in the world. The wine reviewed below comes from the Mâconnais area of southern Burgundy, whose wine production is almost 90% white, almost exclusively Chardonnay. This area produces three times as much white wine as the rest of Burgundy, but is not particularly well known.
If you are visiting the Mâconnais area, and you really should, make sure to stop by the village of Cluny and its medieval abbey, once the largest church in all Europe. Today the site lies in ruins, as it has been since the French Revolution, but what ruins. The site contains a horse-breeding center founded by Napoleon using stone from the abbey. You'll also want to see the Musée Ochier, a Romanesque lapidary museum. Don't forget to tour the town of Autun once called Augustodonum, city of Augustus. The original name refers to Augustus Caesar who modestly described it as "the sister and rival of Rome itself." Avoid disappointment, don't expect Rome II. But do visit Autun's Portes (Archways) and the Théâtre Romain, once the largest arena in Gaul (Roman France) with room for 15,000 spectators. Every August (do you think that's a coincidence?) traditionally costumed locals put on a period piece. Talking about Napoleon, he and his brother studied at the local military academy, where at age nine the future Emperor first learnt French.
Before reviewing the Burgundy wine and imported cheeses that we were lucky enough to purchase at a local wine store and a local Italian food store, here are a few suggestions of what to eat with indigenous wines when touring this beautiful region. Start with Pâté en Croûte de Grenouilles au Bleu de Bresse (Frog and Bresse Blue-Cheese Pie). For your second course savor Poulet de Bresse à la Crème-Trompettes de la Mort (Free-Range Bresse Chicken in Creamy Sauce with Horns of Plenty Mushrooms). Read more about Bresse chickens in our article I Love French Wine and Food - A Red Beaujolais. And as dessert indulge yourself with Ile Flottante (Floating Island, a Meringue Island in a Custard Sea.)
OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.
Wine Reviewed Pouilly-Vinzelles AOC 'En Paradis' 2003 Louis Latour 12.6% about $18.50
Let's start by quoting the marketing materials. This pretty wine from the Mâconnais is pale yellow in color and has a beautiful nose of lemon, honey, apple, and tropical fruit. It is elegant and pleasing revealing hazelnut and fruit flavors on tasting. This wine is perfect for drinking now.
This Chardonnay was fermented in stainless steel tanks and never saw the inside of an oak barrel. The Pouilly-Vinzelles is a not very well-known neighbor of the more expensive Pouilly-Fuissé. And now for the review.
My first meal was a Poulet Chasseur (Chicken Cacciatore) that I made with considerable care. The wine was very delicate and yet not weak. Its apple flavor expressed itself well. I enjoyed how the wine's acid dealt with the meat's grease, which was relatively low because I cooked the chicken without its skin.
The next meal was more pedestrian. It consisted of chicken legs in a soy, onion, and garlic sauce. The wine was refreshing and pleasant but fairly short.
Continuing to work my way down the food scale, the next pairing involved a baked noodle dish, a cheese-less lasagna with tomatoes, onions, peas, and chicken hamburger. The wine was appley and floral and went very well with the meal, but seemed a bit wasted.
The final meal was disappointing. It consisted of an omelet with brown mushrooms, local provolone cheese, and the fixings. The wine was pleasant but not at all special, in fact it was not particularly present.
The wine and cheese tastings were more successful than usual. The first pairing was with a soft, buttery northern Italian Bel Paese cow's milk cheese. This cheese seemed to intensify the wine's flavor. Then I tried the wine with a French Saint-Aubin, also a soft cow's milk cheese. In its presence the wine became softer.
Final verdict. I'm not sure. This wine was sometimes quite good, but I think it was too expensive. What do you expect from a Bordeaux? By the way, the label's term En Paradis was not the least bit justified.
Related Tags: french wine, wine, fine wine, wine and food, wine education, wine bargain, red wine, white wine, wine facts
Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Presently his wine websites are http://www.theworldwidewine.com and http://www.theitalianwineconnection.com .
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Understanding The Home Made Wine Making Method
Many people love to sample different types of wine, but sometimes, you just can not find one you rea - How The Internet Can Help You Choose The Perfect Wines With Confidence
How do you choose the right wine for a special occasion without being bamboozled by wine merchants o - An Elegant, Thoughtful And Elite Wine Gifts - Perfect For All Occasion
Wine gifts are considered as 1 of the best presents for men. They come in a selection of tastes, vin - London Bars
An ultimate London experience surely includes catching a glimpse of the Buckingham Palace, strolling - Vinotemp Vt-28teds Thermo Electric Digital 28 Bottle Wine Chiller
If you are looking to buy a freestanding wine cooler to house your tasty wine collection or perhaps - Haier 6 Bottle Wine Fridge - Small And Compact!
You all know the old saying that good things come in small packages, well it is true with this space - Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator - Does It Improve The Taste Of Your Wine?
The Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator is a must have for any wine lover or avid enthusiast. Every wine - New World In More Ways Than One - The Universe Of Wine Online
What is wine? The distilled and matured juice of grapes. It's also, according to the aficionado (of - Alcohol Free Wine! Explore The Great Discovery
Alcohol free wine is quite healthier just like its traditional counterpart, rich in minerals and vit - Haier Wine Cooler Refrigerators - For Storing Wine
You will find many people around always complaining about the problem of storing their wine. So answ
Most viewed articles in this category:
- 6 Benefits to Making Your Own Wine
Ever thought what benefits you can reap by making your own homemade wineMaking wine is an art that i - HomeMade Wine Making-Some Things You Might Not Know
As wine has become more popular in the United States and growing steadily every day, there has been - What Do You Need A Wine Bottle Rack For?
There are increasing numbers of wine lovers each year globally; in fact on a noticeable level even d - A Wine Rack Cabinet As An Addition To Your Home
The art of decoration has taken on a life of its own, inspiring a host of books and reality televisi - Break Up Your Winter Reds With An Elegant White Burgundy
If you are like me, you ate a little too much this holiday season and you made a resolution to shed - Brunello Fans Meet Your New Spanish Favorite
f you have been following our newsletters - and we hope you have - we recently featured a fantastic - Spinetta's Finest Baby Barolo Yet
Last week we were at a blind tasting in Manhattan which featured wines from Piedmont, Italy. Out of - To Really Enjoy Superb Wine - Top-up with NAD
When an alcoholic beverage is swallowed, it passes through the stomach into the small intestine wher - Spring Mountain Vineyard
Spring Mountain, a hilly sub-district of Napa, is no exception producing unique and exceptional Cali - I Love Italian Wine and Food - Aosta Valley Region, Piedmont Wine
If you are looking for fine Italian wine and food, consider the Aosta Valley region of northern Ital