It has been crazy trying to keep up since probably October, any semblance of a chronological order or sequence, so I am just going to write about wines without any time consequences.  There is something called the “cloud” that I never asked for, that is going crazy with my photos, but that is fine, as I think that I will live. 

When Ms. Yoga was in town we decided to stop and have an afternoon snack in Plymouth.  You have to understand that Ms. Yoga likes to nosh, so charcuterie boards are perfect for her.  Actually, years ago, Ms. Yoga lived in Plymouth, when I first met her, but the city is totally changed since those days.  Ms. Yoga decided that she was going to enjoy a Louis Jadot Steel Chardonnay Vin de France 2022.  Louis Jadot began as a negocient in 1859 based in Beaune, one of the centers of the Burgundy region of France.  The Louis Jadot firm has a portfolio of wines from the basic regional wines to some of the most lauded vineyards in the region.  The firm was acquired in 1985 by the owners of US wine importer Kobrand, which still owns the company and imports Jadot’s wines into the USA.  This particular wine carries the Vin de France appellation which has replaced the old Vin de Table or Table Wine, which became the kiss of death to most merchants and to the buying public as well.  This is a bulk wine that caters to the crowd that wants a Chardonnay instead of a French Chablis.  It is also proclaiming that it is a Steel Chardonnay, so there is not oak aging, so it is an easier and less costly wine to produce, and the grapes only have to be from France to appease the appellation laws.  It was a pretty golden-yellow wine that offered notes of citrus, green apples, and white florals.  On the palate, the wine had tones of green apple, a touch of lemon-lime, a trace of almonds, quite crisp and refreshing with moderate acidity and a medium body with finish of some fruit and alcohol.  An easy drinking Chardonnay with and easy to understand with a charcuterie board.   

My Bride has been on a sparkling wine kick, but not a Champagne girl.  She had Da Luca Sparkling Rosé Sicily NV.  This was another bulk wine made using the Charmant Method or the Tank Method.  I am going to venture that the wine was made using Moscato grapes, as it was made for quaffing and casual dining.  A coppery-pink wine with plenty of medium size bubbles and offering notes of strawberry and cream.  On the palate there were tones of strawberry and raspberry, with traces of cream and a short finish of fruit and minerals.  I think it would have been more refreshing on a summer afternoon, but it was pleasant enough to please my Bride.

As for me, I went with Bieler Pere et Fils “Sabine” Coteaux D’ Aix-en-Provence 2022.  In 1992, Philippe Bieler founded Chateau Routas in Coteaux Varois, a small appellation in the middle of Provence. A few years later, two of his children became involved, they had a chance to sell the Chateau and founded Bieler Pere & Fils.  The Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence appellation was originally a VDQS in 1956, as it was unofficially known as Coteaux du Roy Rene (Rene D’Anjou who loved the local wines back in the 15^th Century.  The region was granted AOC in 1985.  The wine is a blend of 32% Grenache, 23% Syrah, 17% Cinsault, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Rolle, 5% Grenache Blanc and 3% Counoise.  Each block of grapes or vineyards are fermented separately using different yeasts and different lees treatments.  Each tank of grapes is treated with nitrogen gas, so that there is no air contact with the juice, until it is fully blended and then bottled to maintain the fruit.  A pretty pink/salmon shade that offers notes of peaches, white cherries, raspberries, tea and Provence herbs.  On the palate tones of red fruits, stone fruit, tea, and spices in a brightly acidic wine that finishes with fruit, rose petals and wet stones.