WINE - The New Energy Drink.

Christophe Reboul Salze bought his Bordeaux wine vineyard Chateau Les Grands Marechaux located in the Cotes de Blaye appellation in 1997.

Les Grands Marechaux is a contender for the best value Bordeaux wine produced today.




This estate-bottled, hand-harvested Bordeaux has also been a favorite of Robert Parker who has featured it in
"The World's Best Wine
Values Under $25"
calling it "sensational" and writing that the wine is "velvety textured, sumptuous, and long...". He's called Stephane Derenoncourt (who consults at the estate) "brilliant" and the estate was classified as "excellent".

Wow - I can hardly wait for Friday night - how about you?

Chateau les Grands Marechaux  - $22
Rated 92 points in the Wine Spectator

So, just how great is the 2009 vintage?

"The finest vintage I have tasted in 32 years of covering Bordeaux!!!" - Robert M. Parker Jr.

"In France's most famous wine region, Bordeaux, some people are touting the 2009 vintage as the mother of great modern vintages. Licorice and tar on the nose. Full-bodied, with a lovely core of fruit and silky tannins. Focused and clear. Could be best ever from here." - James Suckling, Wine Spectator

Wine Advocate: Consultant Stephane Darenoncourt has fashioned a medium dark ruby-hued 2009 with seductive fruit, earth, spice, and dark berry characteristics as well as a medium to full-bodied finish.








Llicorella Priorat 2005 - $22
Louis Latour Pouilly Vinzelles - 18 

      

Already known to the Romans, Vinzelles takes its name from the latin vincella which means small vine. The distinctive feature of the village of Vinzelles is the presence of two "chateaux" separated by just a few metres: a fortified castle from the 11th century and the other from the 13th and 17th centuries.  

 

The appellation of Pouilly-Vinzelles encompasses the villages of Vinzelles and Loche. Continuing from the predominantly limestone slopes of Chaintre and Fuisse, the vineyards of Pouilly-Vinzelles are exclusively planted with Chardonnay and closely resemble those wines from its neighbor Pouilly-Fuisse.

Golden yellow in color, this Pouilly-Vinzelles is characterized by its heady aromas of Williams pear and peppered mango. Round, fat and very full in the mouth with liquorice notes. Finishes with an attractive balance.

Rated 91 Points - The Wine Spectator 

 

Wine Spectator:  Rated as Outstanding: a wine of superior character and style. "This red is light and crisp, yet has plenty of structure to power its raspberry, licorice and mountain herb flavors. Focused and lively, with a floral, spicy finish.

Wine Maker: 

"A cherry red wine, with purple reflections and an aroma of black fruits with roasted notes. Concentrated and with sweet notes that are reminiscent of cacao. Has a long, well-balanced after-taste.  From a rugged region with sharp relief, in which the grapes are grown on terraces and on the mountain sides or “costers”. The earth is the distinctive element of this region, and is stony and poor with a volcanic constitution, formed by thin layers of slate or “llicorella”, that retain little water, giving the wines produced in this region a marked mineral character. "

Named for the priory of a 12th century order of Carthasian monks, Priorat's vineyards are necessarily on terraces due to the tightly-folded mountainous terrain of the region.  Mechanism is virtually impossible because of the lay of the land, so the wines are hand-crafted.  The solid structure and lively personality of the Llicorella Priorat allow it to pair with a great variety of foods.  Lamb and meat as well as duck, game and robust fish will all do well.  Sample your first glass with a nutty Manchego cheese from Spain; it will really bring out the mountain herbs of this Priorat.  The hint of fruit in this focused red will be delicious with crisp-skinned rotisserie duck served with a sweet-tart cherry chutney.  A pan of paella made with fideo noodles instead of rice will bring out the more earthy, spicy side of this Llicorella. 
We like ours with sausage, chicken and/or duck.  If you want something simple, grill up some lamb sausages and serve them with oven-roasted garlic potatoes.  Pour another generous glass and savor it with a rich, full-flavored Spanish Zamorano cheese.  Its texture melts in your mouth and is the perfect ending to what will no doubt be a great meal.   Disfrutar!