White Coulliore

My in-laws went to France two years ago, and since that time they have tried a number of Languedoc reds on me, from Coulliore in particular. Tonight I thought I'd turn the tables and try a WHITE Coulliore on them...

The 2007 Les Clos de Paulilles (Collioure) is 100% Grenache blanc, and it has been some time since I last tasted one of those. An intriguing nose...lemon jelly and butterscotch, vanilla and graham cracker, flint and a hint of white flowers. All soft and fruity on the palate, it tastes of warmth and sunshine - smooth and flavourful with some decent minerality, but flabby and a bit hot - not terribly so, but just enough to be noticed.
cork. 13.5% alcohol.
Score: 16/20
Price: C$21.50 (SAQ)

Drive for One Hundred: 2006 Barranc Dels Closos

Continuing the drive for 100 different varietals I picked up a white from Northern Spain. The 2006 Barranc Dels Closos, a white wine from Spain's Priorat region, is a blend of 50% Garnatxa Blanca (Grenache blanc), 30% Macabeu (Macabeo/Viura), 17% Pedro Ximenez, and 3% Muscat. Very pretty, with honeyed green apple, melon, white flowers and butterscotch on the nose, not dissimilar to southern French whites. Smooth and luscious, with crisp green apple and a nice bitter persistency, this elegant white hid the alcohol well and paired very nicely with edamame and cheap California rolls. I always think of big Spanish reds when I think of Priorat so this was a nice surprise - perhaps less of a surprise once I realized this came from Mas Igneus, one of Priorat's most celebrated houses. Bravo!
cork. 14% alcohol
Score: 17/20
Price: C$21.80 (SAQ)

PS - Mas Igneus's wines are organic. I frequently taste organic wines, but I usually forget to mention that - I will expand the list soon.

WBW #46 (Part 2): A Rhone White from CDP, 2004 Chateau La Nerthe Blanc

A special thanks to Debs for hosting this month's WBW, and for choosing a great theme – the underappreciated whites made from Rhone Valley grapes (see her post for more detail). Debs promised a special billing for bloggers trying wines from different regions, so this is a follow up to my Canadian Viognier posted earlier today.

The 2004 Chateau la Nerthe (blanc) is a white wine from France's Chateauneuf du Pape appellation – a world famous appellation that is better known for its big red wines made from Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre. Tonights white CDP is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Roussanne and Clairette, most of which are rarely seen outside of France. Its haunting nose changed constantly over the evening, with notes of creamy custard, quince, lychee, spring flowers, lemon peel, wet stones and some gentle oakiness – an interesting greenness (wet ferns?) as well. Stunning on the palate – opulent, with a nice oily texture, lemony cream flavours and a nice bitter finish – so unusual, I'd almost use "rustic" if the wine wasn't SO elegant and polished. It paired nicely with a pork tenderloin, but all I could think about was buttery lobster…Very, very good.
cork. 13.5% alcohol
Score: 18/20
Price: C$50 (SAQ)

Thank you to the Wine Blogging Wednesday organizers, and Debs for forcing me to try a few wine I would not have tried otherwise - I look forward to the "special billing" in your review ;)

Cheers!