It’s been 6 years since the release of this movie and everyone still talks about Pinot Noir. In fact, to most wine connoisseurs, there is no more seductive grape than the Pinot Noir. We knew this before the movie, and we still know it today. I too am a sucker for the great Burgundian Pinot Noir. It’s a grape that can truly seduce with aromas of raspberries, cherries, forest floor and even flowers. The Pinot Noir’s high acidity gives the wine freshness and longevity. When you drink a truly great Pinot Noir, it can make you smile.
This being said folks, it’s time to move on and say “I’m not drinking any fucking Pinot Noir!” It’s time to give other (red) grapes a chance. Other grapes that I often look to to seduce me and make me smile! Even getting me to jump out of my chair! So what grapes am I talking about? Which grapes am I drinking most often these days?? Read ON!!
What about Gamay? Gamay finds it’s home in a few areas (mostly) in France and in the hands of the right grower, can seduce. Clos Roche Blanche in the Loire. Jean-Marc Brignot , Jean Foillard, Clos des Vignes du Maynes & Jean-Paul Brun (to name only a few) in Burgundy. I’m told that Edmunds St. John also makes an interesting Gamay in California, though I have not yet tasted it. The Gamay-based wines are incredibly fresh, dominated by red fruits and hints of spice. Thanks to the low(er) alcohol often found in these wines, their drinkablility is beyond compare!
What about Pinau d’Aunis? Found in the western parts of the Loire Valley, this once noble grape is slowly making a comeback thanks to Domaine Griottes, Clos Roche Blanche (try their Rosé!) & Jean-Pierre Robinot to name a few. With it’s truly seductive (and unmistakable) aromas of pencil lead, grapefruit and incense-like aromas, these incredibly fresh and light wines seduce me every time and this grape is quickly climbing to the top of my favorite (red) grapes list.
What about Schioppettino? Found in the far reaches of Friuli (near the Slovenian border), and until more recently, an unheard of grape for me. Then along came Fulvio Bressan with his “little firecracker”, the Schioppettino. Dominated by black pepper, minerals and black fruit while remaining fresh, this certainly is a grape to put on your top list of grapes to try!
What about Poulsard? Mainly found around the town of Pupillin in the Jura (just east of Burgundy), this thin-skinned red grape produces light colored wines which can be a bit reductive at first. Once open, brilliant, high-acidity and red fruit mark these delicate wines. These wines are a great fit for the local charcuterie & smoked sausage. Try the wines of Jean-Marc Brignot, Tissot and Overnoy to get a good taste for what this red grape can produce!
And let’s not forget the Nerello Mascalese! This Sicilian (Mt.Etna) grape is responsible for making wines like Frank Cornelissen’s Magma and Munjebel Rosso. Aroma’s that fit nicely between the Pinot Noir and Nebbiolo grapes. Aromatic wines with loads of freshness and solid tannins. Certainly not a grape to pass up if you have the opportunity to taste it. Great potential for aging – if you’re into that.
So, it time to starts saying “If anybody orders Pinot Noir, I’m leaving!” and time to start tasting some new grapes! Tell me about your favorite red grape(s)?
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Cuvée Gamay 2008 12% Alcohol – synthetic corkWine information: 100% Gamay Average yield: 22hl/ha Terroir: Clay, mixed with flint & hard sandstone, calcareous sub soil, located at 1ères Côtes du Cher Manual harvest (100% destalking)
Indigenous yeast, no chaptalisation Vinification:Â Traditional, one week maceration with daily pigeage or remontages (crushing & pumping over)
Aging in Stainless steel or concrete 10,400 bottles produced
Price in Norway is 130 NOK ($21)
Friday July 31st, 2009 16:45 (4:45pm)
Appearance: Darker then expected color for a Gamay. Just barely see-through, almost opaque.  Red with purple highlights. Medium intense glow. Clean
Nose: Jumped out of the glass. High intensity. Pepper, black and red berries with hints of leather. Some dark stone fruit like plums. Hints of cocoa powder. Very fruity
Palate: Typically correct Gamay with spice, pepper, black and red berries also on the palate.  Great structure and mild tannins with medium plus acidity. Quite fresh. Although the alcohol is barely noticeable, the structure is that of a wine with higher alcohol. Long, serious finish.. Have I found a replacement for L’Ancien?? Just 2 minutes in the glass and the tannins are becoming tighter which I personally love. Nice.
Saturday August 1st, 2009 14:21 (2:21pm)
Appearance: No change
Nose: A bit more mellow than yesterday, intensity medium plus. Classic Gamay nose with spice and red berries dominating today with hints of blackberry in the background. The leather and cocoa powder were there but to a lesser degree. Sweet cranberry and red licorice
Palate: Leaning more to the red berries today, raspberries and cranberries with pepper notes in the background. More serious and more elegant than yesterday. Although I enjoyed all the aromas yesterday, today they felt more united. Tannins were still mild, but gripped and held elegantly for at least 10 seconds or more. Nice long finish. Very fresh. Don’t feel the alcohol.
Sunday August 2nd, 2009 20:48 (8:48pm) – This wine is at it’s peak today
Appearance: No change
Nose: still quite intense and peppery. Same aromas as the previous days with the raspberries and cranberries with hints of darker fruit giving this wine some depth while remaining fresh. Pepper still dominates, but not overpowering
Palate: Very sweet fruit today. Sweet red licorice at first with ripe raspberries and pepper on the finish. Mineral. Really drinking well today . Very typical (good) Gamay and fast becoming one of my top red grapes. Mild but gripping tannins with a ripe fruit finish. Very focused.  Just like the (Pineau d’Aunis) Rosé, the noticeable improvement on this wine tonight is the focused fruit.. wow.
Monday August 3rd, 2009 23:28 (11:28pm)
Appearance: No Change
Nose: Again sweeter fruit. Red fruit dominating with less pepper than on previous days. Some underlying dark fruit like blackberries. Sweet red licorice with hints of cranberries. Some hints of watermelon emerging
Palate: Really red fruit driven with cranberries dominating and the tannins also stepping up. The wine is still very fresh and the acidity is really driving the wine today, but not overpowering it. Really intensely ripe fruit. Still very nice today.. Yummy. Hints of bitterness on the finish with some minerals.
Tuesday August 4th, 2009 00:31 (12:31am)
Appearance: No change
Nose: pepper stepping up with underlying red fruit. Hints of blackberries. Wild berries. Floral hints as well. Still has quite a pretty nose.
Palate: Like the Pinea d’Aunis Rosé, alcohol a tad more noticeable today. Good structure with mostly red fruits and pepper with hints of oxidation starting to show, although very slight. A tad bitter on the finish
Wednesday August 5th, 2009 17:35 (5:35pm)
Appearance: No change
Nose: Still pretty. Today the flowers are dominating. Red and wild berries. Pepper overtones.
Palate: Still very drinkable. Seems a bit more focused again today. A bit better than yesterday. Barely noticeable oxidation. Mostly red fruits on the palate and hints of pepper and mineral. Bitter finish. Still very drinkable.
Thursday August 6th, 2009 23:54 (11:54pm)
Appearance: No change
Nose: A bit darker tonight. Spicy blackberries. Tanbark (or pencil shavings) showing tonight. Hints of Cocoa. No volatility
Palate: Nice. Cocoa and tannins taking the show. Blackberries on the finish with a hint of spice. Still has great length and freshness. Very, very slight oxidation on the palate, but still very drinkable. Really enjoying this wine tonight.
In summary, if you like fresh and light wines with hints of spice and dominating red fruit, this is a great wine. Well made and can go with many foods ranging from cheeses to fish and chicken. Another very stable and well-made wine from the Clos Roche Blanche Domaine.
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