I have to admit that there were more wines purchased at Elie Wine Company, but it was not from us. My Sister-in-Law was so amazed at the breadth of French wines offered in one location, that she decided to do some shopping and figured that she could store the wines with us, and that would be one less square cubic foot that would not take up space when they drive up for the holidays. She also decided to get some birthday shopping out of the way as well. You can tell that they are sisters.

The first wine that I will discuss is from Corsica and while this island may have an Italian heritage woven into the tapestry of its existence, it is a department of France and abides by the wine rules of France, which in some cases have been reworded to be more closely tied to the Common Market. Clos Canarelli Corse Figari 2013 is such a wine. The Appellation Corse Figari Protegée identifies the wine from Corsica and the village of Figari is in the southern tip of Corsica. The wine is eighty percent Niellucciu and the balance is equally split among Syrah and Sciaccarellu and while those are the local names for the grapes, we know Niellucciu as Sangiovese and Sciaccarellu as Mammolo, and the blending of those two grapes are one of the main types of wines on the island, and it also shows how the Italian heritage is always present. The Clos Canarelli was bought for a gift and so was the next wine that I will discuss. Chateau Carbonnieux 2012 is a Grand Cru Classe of Graves in the Bordeaux region. Chateau Carbonnieux is a Grand Cru Classe awardee for both their white and red wines, which is a bit more common occurrence in Graves. The winery is in the Pessac-Leognan area of Graves and this red wine is a classic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. This wine starts of in fermentation in Stainless Steel and then ages in oak for eighteen months. Graves has a unique taste for Bordeaux as the area is named for the terroir; Graves means gravel and not a hole in a cemetery.

The two wines that she chose for different holidays coming up are rather unique and I think she must have been listening to her sister gush a bit about Cabernet Franc. Thierry Germain Domaine des Roches Neuves Les Memoires Saumur Champigny 2015. Thierry Germain was originally from Bordeaux, but he has found a new life in the Loire Valley. While Cabernet Franc is one of the grapes used in Bordeaux it shines in Saumur Champigny and the winery is bio-dynamic and they only use used oak barrels. Les Memoires is from a separate vineyard plot that was first planted with Cabernet Franc in 1904 near Dampierre, so the vines are quite mature. The wine is fermented for ten to fifteen days, before it is aged for twelve months in oak and then it is bottled and rests for an additional six months before it is sold. The other wine that caught her attention is a Pinot Noir wine and that is a wine that both she and her husband really enjoy. The Domaine Charlopin-Parizot Gevrey-Chambertin La Justice 2011 is that wine. In the Burgundy region Domaine Charlopin-Parizot is a newcomer as they began in 1977 with four acres of vineyards and they now have sixty-two acres in several locations. La Justice is just east of the village and prized for its alluvial soil. This wine spends four to fourteen days in fermentation and then is aged for about eighteen months in new oak. So, it looks like we shall be enjoying some great wines during the holidays and I will have to find some wines to compliment these wines as well for dinner.