Empty bottle parade. August
After last month's sparkling and more special wine selection, this month I decided to go a bit more relaxed, assembling together the wines I love so much and some that strike a good balance between those moments when you want something nice, but others couldn't care less, or when you need to use half of the bottle in a ragu or stew, but the other part is just for you.
The Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune "En Bignon"
Jean-Claude Rateau's red wine is made exclusively from Pinot Noir grapes, sourced from a small, one-hectare vineyard. Situated between Nantoux and Bouze at an altitude of 420 metres, the grapes allow us to experience the terroir in every single sip.
With its bright medium red colour and intense aromas of red fruits, alongside notes of violets and perhaps some raspberries, it is a lively and vibrant red wine. It adds a touch of spiciness and a balanced tannin feel to the mouth.
Enjoy it with grilled meats, pork chops, meat-based tapas, duck, and hearty salads.
Domaine Ruet Brouilly
A wine from Beaujolais, particularly from the Brouilly appellation, celebrated for its elegance, complexity, and expression of the Gamay grape. The wine offers aromas of raspberries, cherries, and ripe blackberries, leading to a fruity, balanced wine with touches of minerality and ample length.
It’s a perfect companion to heavier veal, pork, and poultry dishes, as well as hearty pasta and a selection of cured meats.
Torus Madiran
Crafted and pampered by Alain Brumont, this red comes from the Madiran appellation, where the Tannat grape is predominantly grown, complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. With its deep ruby hue and aromas of blackberry, toast, and spices, it leads us to many sips full of fleshy wine, rich with red berries, pepper notes, and soft tannins.
Served with grilled meats and hearty salads (not too much acidity in the sauce), this wine is lifted even higher in its taste.
Domaine Rolet's 2016 Côtes du Jura Blanc
This was one of the bottles I brought back home from my visit to their winery late last year. Blending 70% Chardonnay and 30% Savagnin grapes, it’s generous with the very particular notes that this wine region is famous for. No, it is not Vin Jaune, but it still has that characteristic I so love.
A four-year maturation in oak barrels results in a wine with a pale yellow colour, aromas of nuts, dried fruits, and smokiness, leading to a mouthfeel full of ripe apples, light plums, citrus zest, and plenty of nuttiness.
A truly gastronomic wine, perfect to be served with creamy dishes or foods with mushrooms. And, I love it with a creamy, butter-rich potato purée.
Domaine de Cassaigne's Grand Vin
Coming from the Côtes de Gascogne region in Southwest France, this wine is perhaps a bit simpler than the others. Made from Merlot, Syrah, and Manseng Noir, it is very deep purple and generous with cinnamon and dark fruit and berry aromas—so typical of this kind of wine and one aged in barrels. You can sip and enjoy those silky tannins and spiciness now, or age it for a few years (but not too long). It’s best served with steak, mushroom dishes, or lamb.