Wine Tasting: French whites

Cindy,
originally uploaded by amorningstar.

Thirteen different French whites for a smaller crowd than usual. But as I'd hoped, we redeemed chardonnay for several people who hate typical California chardonnay (hint: Chablis! chard without the oak!). And I got a good education on styles of sauvignon blanc from the Loire. Most of these were purchased at Kermit Lynch in Berkeley, which failed to give me an itemized receipt, so pricing information is approximate.

1. 2005 Andre-Michel Bregeon Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie $12: simple, clean, uncomplicated wine


2. 2006 Domaine Hillolyte Reverdy Sancerre ~$20: very grassy on the nose, grapefruit on the palate, reminiscent of NZ sauv blanc


3. 2005 Jaumier Quincy ~$20: a more subdued sauv blanc, a touch of wood


4. 2005 Domaine Vacheron "Les Romains" Sancerre $52: brilliant take on sauv blanc, with far more complexity than any others I've had, but not worth the price


5. 2003 Chateau D'Epire Savennieres: started as honey, honey, honey, but changed dramatically over a couple hours, until it was like a dry champagne


6. 2006 Chateau de Lascaux Coteaux du Languedoc


7. Antoine Arena Biano Gentile Vin de Table (Corsica): tasted just like a high quality champagne gone flat (and I mean that in a good way), lots of toast.


8. 2006 Domaine Maestracci E Prove Blanc (Corsica)


9. 2005 Domaine Roland Lavantureux Petit Chablis ~$18: redeemed several chardonnay haters, crisp, green apple, classic chardonnay character, minus the oak


10. 2005 Domaine Regis Bouvier Marsannay ~$30: what California chard makers strive for, oak without going over into the "buttery" world


11. 2005 Domaine Vocoret Chablis $18


12. 2004 Meyer-Fonne Alsace Grand Cru Wineck-Schlossberg Riesling: a little sweet, pleasant, but I prefer the more crisp, mineral-forward German producers


13. 2003 Domaine Champalou Cuvee Moelleuse Vouvray: sweet