June 7, 2014

Domaine Alain Voge

“Alain Voge’s wines more than any grower’s of this appellation, do indeed resemble fine Hermitage with their intense display of rich, smoky, black fruit… while the wines shows gorgeous polish and purity, they never lose their Cornas soul. These wines need to be on every reader’s short list.” Robert Parker

In the Northern Rhone is the tiny apellation of Cornas.  Until recently, its wines were overlooked in favor of the more famous Hermitage wines.  This appellation covers only 270 acres of land.  Its winemakers offer high quality, robust wines at more affordable prices than those of its neighbor.  The vineyards are on similar soils and experience a similar climate to those of Hermitage.  The name Cornas means Burnt Land in the local dialect, and the climate fits its name.  

June 5, 2014

Jean-Francois Ganevat

Between Burgundy and the border of Switzerland in eastern France is the obscure and intriguing wine producing region of the Jura.  Vineyards are mostly planted along the lower-lying western section of the Jura Mountains facing south to maximize sun exposure.  The soil throughout the Jura is composed of Jurassic limestone and marlstone, similar to Chablis and the upper Loire, and was named for the Jura Mountains.  The summers in the region are warm and dry and the winters are cold.  Due to the region’s isolation, traditional winemaking techniques are still in common practice and its unique regional grape varieties still dominate the landscape.

Since 1650, Jean-Francois Ganevat’s family has grown wine grapes and produced wine in the hamlet of La Combe in the Jura.  … Read the rest

May 31, 2014

“Our aim is to express the true nature of Burgundy through our wines, a terroir that can be both proud of its past and optimistic about its future.” – Maison Louis Jadot

Louis Jadot’s label, with the Bacchus head, decorative frieze, and the signature pale yellow paper, is perhaps one of the most instantly recognizable of all Burgundy producers. Maison Louis Jadot was founded in 1859 by the Jadot family, beginning their estate with the Clos des Ursules vineyard still in the family’s posession to this day. A significant core of Jadot’s domaine vines were assembled some 60 years prior to the formation of Maison Jadot, this holding of  eleven grand and premier cru vineyards totaling about 16 hectares were all left to the Jadot family and have been a part of the Jadot estate ever since.… Read the rest