September Wines of the Month

Wines of the Month

Hello, It's September and time for the wines of the month! We're headed to France and the Cotes-du-Rhone, Cotes-du-Luberon and the Languedoc.

Remember, if you are a member of the wines of the month (click the link for details), you get 10% off your wine purchases ALL THE TIME! The wines are all in the store today!

Tier 1

The white:

Domaine de Coussergues Chardonnay Viognier 2008 (Languedoc) $11.99 - This property has been in the same family for 13 generations (since 1485)! This is ripe and fresh and has incredible aromas of flowers, peaches and apricots! It has a great texture - it's both crisp and fresh and also has a nice softness. Excellent acidity. Flavors of pears, tropical fruit and honeysuckle. Blend of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Viognier. Food pairing - salads, chicken, lighter meals. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 90 points.

The Red:

Chateau du Trignon Cotes-du-Rhone (2007) Reg. $16.99, Sale $14.99 - Chateau We tasted this with Randy from Wicked Wines in August - "WOW!" This is brand-new to Maine! It's also from a GREAT, GREAT vintage in the Cotes-du-Rhone. Nice and juicy with red berry fruits! This is smooth and soft and drinks oh so nicely! It's not tannic. Mouth-watering. It has some nice pepper that lingers on the finish. It has a lot of earth in the aromas. Blend of roughly 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 15% Mourvèdre. Organic Farming. Food pairing - grilled or roasted meats, mushroom dishes. Great for Fall!

Tiers 2 & 3

For Tiers 2 & 3, we are headed to a special winery in the Cotes-du-Luberon, Domaine de la Citadelle.

The Cotes-du-Luberon is in the southeastern corner of the Rhone Valley, to the east of Avignon and north of Marseilles. This winery is in Menerbes, at the heart of the Luberon. The domaine is at the confluence of the Rhone and Durance Rivers.

In 1989, Yves Riusset-Rouard purchased an ancient farmhouse with 8 hectares of vines and created Domaine de la Citadelle. They farm organically and today, the estate comprises 45 hectares (about 110 acres).

Three of these wines are extremely limited in supply and we kinda lucked into them when we helped the importer, Didier Boutet, get some wine to a customer. The Cabernet is in good supply - we can get more of that.

Tier 2

The White:

Domaine de la Citadelle Côtes du Luberon Les Artèmes Blanc 2007 (France) $23.99 - Delicate, elegant rich blend! This is a GREAT vintage in the south of France! This is both lushly rich and delicate! Aromas of flowers, herbal tea, almonds, green apples & peaches. Flavors of green apples, honey, almonds and peaches. Bracing acidity. Medium bodied. Blend of 30% Roussane, 30% Grenache Blanc, 30% Clairette, 10% Marsanne. Hand-harvested. Fermented in stainless steel. Matured in tank on the lees. The Marsanne is new to the blend this year. 667 cases made. Organic Farming. Food pairing - seafood, salty dishes.

The Red:

Domaine de la Citadelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (France) $17.99 - I've had customers go GA-GA over this wine because they've been to the winery and are shocked I could get this! They should be GA-GA - it's delicious! The wine sees no oak, so it is bright and fresh. Drink it now! Cabernet is an unusual grape from this area; so this is not an AOC wine....it can't be! The growing area is cool at night and hot during the day. Yves Rousset-Rouard resurrected this estate and turned it into one of the best in the Côtes du Luberon! Organic Farming. Food pairing - steak, lamb, stews, mushroom dishes. Deux Etoiles dans le Guide Hachette 2007 (2 Stars)

Tier 3

The White: Domaine de la Citadelle Gouverneur Saint Auban 2006 (France) $39.99 - Similar to an outstanding Châteauneuf-du-Pape! Aromas and flavors of stone fruits, green apples, fresh bread, baking spices, hazelnuts and citrus. The Viognier adds floral aromas. Well-integrated wine with lots of layers and complexity. Nice acidity. Blend of 40% Roussane, 20% Chardonnay and 40% Viognier. Fermented and aged in barrels (25% new) on the lees with regular stirring for 9 months. Hand-harvested. 167 cases made. Organic farming. Food pairing - duck, chicken, salmon.

The Red:

Domaine de la Citadelle Côtes du Luberon Les Artèmes Rouge 2004 (France) $26.99 - This is smooth and has lots of layers! Big, rich aromas. Rich, ripe fruit with a core of raspberries and black cherries and Provencal herbs. Lots of dark fruit in the flavors and notes of anise. Medium bodied. Smooth finish with ripe tannins. Blend of 40% Syrah, 40% Grenache and Mourvedre and Carignan compose the other 20%. Hand-harvested. Aged in stainless steel and 20% in oak barrels that are 4th and 5th use. 3,300 cases made. Organic farming. Food pairing - meats, game. You can age this for 8-10 years.