5 Favourite French Wines: The Specialists at 8Wines Share Top Picks
Wine specialists 8Wines handpick the finest wines from across the globe, from Napa Valley to the Judean Hills. Of course, no wine collection would be complete without an offering from France.
In this, the first of a series of articles, the 8Wines team share some of their favourite wines from l’Hexagone.
Mirabeau Pure Provence Rosé 2020
Jeany and Stephen Cronk left London and pursued their winemaking dream in France’s Provence region, known for its beautiful rosé. It turned out to be the perfect move. In 2011, they released their first vintage with the help of Master of Wine Angela Muir. Today, they are known worldwide for their beautiful light rosé.
The Mirabeau Pure was first made back in 2014, and it has the perfect blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah grapes. These grapes are grown on limestone soils and clay and harvested during the night to preserve freshness and tasty aromatics. The delicious taste you will feel has beautiful red berries, hints of citrus, and subtle floral notes. A sip will take you on a journey of mouthwatering acidity, berry flavours, and a pure finish. This rosé has a vast range of dishes from fish and sushi to chicken salads.
Mordorée Côtes du Rhône La Dame Rousse 2020
The impressive Mordorée estate is named after the woodcock once found in abundance in the Rhône Valley, which today is an endangered species. Francis Delorme and his son Christophe founded the winery in 1986, and it is now run by Christophe’s wife and daughter together with family members. Respecting nature is key and all wines are farmed organically with biodynamic practices both in the winery and vineyard. Also, the family tends to view things in the long-term to hand over the estate in the best conditions for the next generations.
This wine has aromas of blackcurrants, violets, dark cherries, and the palate displays hints of wild berries and sweet spices. You will get a perfect balance of rich fruit character and full body smooth tannins with freshness. As for dishes, barbecued sausages and red meats or a tasty charcuterie will match perfectly to the intense flavour.
Louis Bouillot Perle de Nuit Cremant de Bourgogne Blanc de Noirs
The Louis Bouillot estate has been producing sparkling Crémant de Bourgogne wines since 1877. Their vast experience mixed with the latest technology creates extraordinary wines. This Blanc de Noir, so-called ‘Pearl of the Night’, has a versatile character of Burgundy’s Pinot Noir grape and the excellent local Gamay. It is a fantastic sparkling wine that is the perfect alternative to champagne used for special moments. Also, it is excellent both as an aperitif and with complex dishes like chicken with couscous and dried apricots, rich tagine, and some Asian spicy dishes.
The grapes are selected from high-quality sites in the Couchois, Châtillonnais, Côte d’Or and Yonne wine regions, pressed right after being picked to make pale juice which is fermented in the traditional method that is also used to create champagne. After the second fermentation, this wine is aged for 24 months, and this produces a multi-layered sparkling wine.
Château Les Trois Croix Fronsac 2016
The date 1712 is inscribed in the stone cellar of Château Les Trois Croix, testament to their tremendous experience. Patrick Léon, a winemaker who worked with Baron Phillipe de Rothschild for almost 20 years as well as other top-rated wineries, bought it in 1995. Today it is a family business, with ‘The Three Crosses’ referring to Patrick’s three children.
This Fronsac is from the Bordeaux region in France, nicknamed the ‘Tuscany of Gironde’. Vineyards are planted on prime limestone soils on slopes overlooking the Dordogne and Isle rivers. Predominantly made from Merlot, it also has Cabernet Franc. The grapes are sorted by hand, vinified with slow maceration, which leads to fermentation to extract the maximum flavour concentration from the skins. Aged in oak barrels for up to 15 months, it delivers a smooth, rich texture to the dark fruit flavour.
Allimant-Laugner Pinot Noir 2019
Following the marriage in 1965 of Mariette Allimant and René Laugner, two members of Alsace’s best winemaking families, this winery was founded, its 12 hillside hectares running along the Rhine River. Today it is run by Hubert Laugner, the 11th generation whose family has been making wine since the 1500s. Because of the tremendous family experience, Hubert knows how to craft sensational wines from grapes like Pinot Noir, which actually is the only black grape variety which is permitted to be grown here.
The first sip reveals a medium body with a bright freshness, and there also are wonderful notes of plums, red cherry, and dried herbs. This Pinot Noir is very easy to drink because of its soft tannins and refined structure. Also, the ripe red fruit makes it the perfect match for dishes like smoked duck salad or Peking duck.
A Word from 8Wines…
We deliver all over Europe, and have been awarded Gold medals from Wine-Searcher four years in a row for our wine selection. Customer service means everything to us, and we strive to deliver an exceptional experience for each client. Our friendly team are always on hand to provide advice – we look forward to hearing from you! Click here for more information.
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