La Comtesse of Chateau St. Martin

by Paige Donner

Wines by the Comtesse Adeline de Barry of Chateau de St. Martin in France's Var, Provence.

• Bubbly:  Bulles de Rosé - the color of pink raspberries you'll find this sparkling to have fine and regular bubbles with notes of red fruit on the mouth

• White: Grande Reserve Blanc 2016 - pineapple, tilleul (linden blossoms) and exotic fruits 

• Rose: Eternelle Favorite 2016 - color of wild peaches, notes of mango-passion in the mouth, very refined

•            Grande Reserve Rosé 2016 - pink gold in a glass; notes of peony, complex and creamy 

• White: Comtesse Blanc 2015 - elegant and complex with aromas of fleur de lys; on the mouth expressions of white fruits like pear and apple, silky

• Red: Grande Reserve Rouge 2014 - licorice and pink pepper bouquet; continued on the mouth with sweet spice hints

•           Comtesse Rouge 2014 - fine and molten in the mouth, this bold red tantalizes with its bouquet of black fruit and hints of spice 

• Dessert Wine: Vin Cuit de Provence -  cooked for 10 hours in the traditional artisanal Provençal method, this is a dessert or aperitif wine that pairs nicely with foie gras or any chocolate/caramel dessert; smoky notes with quince accents

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In 1740 a French family from the nobility became the owners of Chateau de Saint-Martin in the idyllic setting not far from St. Tropez in the South of France. The same family still owns this beautiful winemaking estate and runs its vineyards, producing exquisite Grand Crus Classés  rosés, whites and reds. Wine production on this site dates back all the way to the 2nd c. AD.

The ownership of the estate has passed from mother to daughter throughout the centuries with the exception of Count de Rohan Chabot who was the man who successfully championed the estate to be classified as a Grand Cru Classé in 1955. 

The estate famously celebrates the wine lifestyle several times a year: Notably at Christmastime in the grand tradition of Provençal Christmas festivities. And also in the summer during their Rires dans les Vignes or "Comedy in the Vineyards" festival which will take place again this year in late July. 

The Wines: 

• Bubbly:  Bulles de Rose
• White: Grande Reserve Blanc 2016
• Rose: Eternelle Favorite 2016
•            Grande Reserve Rose 2016
• White: Comtesse Blanc 2015
• Red: Grande Reserve Rouge 2014 
•           Comtesse Rouge 2014
• Dessert Wine: Vin Cuit de Provence
  

 

 Route des Arcs – 83460 TARADEAU Tél : 04 94 99 76 76 – Fax : 04 94 99 76 77  www.chateaudesaintmartin.com Coordonnées GPS : 43°26'40''N 06°26'05''E

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Domaine de RocheVille, Loire, France

by Paige Donner

Le Page, Le Prince, Le Roi, La Dame et La Favorite - names that evoke pages from French history, a past steeped in aristocracy - Princes, Kings, and favored ladies from the nobility. The Loire Valley was for centuries the preferred leisurely resting place for France's aristocracy. The many chateaus that the region is famous for is testament to this.

Hence Domaine de RocheVille's estate owner Philippe Porché's naming of his wines after the royalty that once inhabited his region is not at all farfetched though indeed it is whimsical. His wines are made either with chenin blanc or cabernet sauvignon. According to Porché the chenin blanc varietal is one of the most versatile and expresive wine grapes yet still underappreciated. The region around Anjou is the only one in the world where over 9000 hectares of chenin blanc are planted in both shale (schist) and limestone. To achieve the varied expressions of his mono-varietal wines, he vinifies from select parcels on his 16 hectares of vineyards with help from his wife Agnes.

La Favorite - bubbly and very low sugar dosage, anywhere from 0 - 6 grams, Saumur Brut cremant noir

Le Troubadour - a rosé with notes of wild peach, some apricot and touch of ocean salinity; Saumur Rosé is now its own appellation

La Jouvencelle - Saumur dry white; fresh and full of youth, full of citrus and tropical notes

Le Clos de la Thibaudiere - delicate nose of citrus and white fruit, a pleasantly complex dry white

La Dame - Saumur dry white, white flowers and tropical fruit with a hint of vanilla; a wine to savor during the accompaniment of a meal

Le Page 2014 - its smooth and slightly astringent tannins make this a lively wine; ripe cherry aromas; fresh and fruity this is a good wine for shared meals with friends;  100% cab franc from the foot of Parnay's mediaeval church

Le Prince 2014 - Saumur Champigny 100% cab franc, notes of spice, velvety mouth

Le Roi 2010 - Harmonious and with notable power the mouth finishes with notes of oak and woodiness which contrast elegantly with the first tastes of dark red fruit; a long finish

Le Fou du roi 2011 - black fruits and toasty on the nose, this expressive wine finishes strong and velvety, nicely structured

The wine estate Domaine de RocheVille in Parnay, Loire region of France welcomes visitors.  DOMAINE DE ROCHEVILLE
Les Hauts de Valbrun 49730 Parnay
Phone 02 4138 1000

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25: Paris GOOD food + wine - French Oysters and Tea

by Paige Donner

Gillardeau Oysters and French Tea Tasting

Ahhh yes, it's March once again and that of course means that spring is just around the corner. For this episode of Paris GOOD food + wine I'm letting you in on a couple of my secrets. These are French secrets to keeping in good health and good spirits during the long winter months, - namely oysters and tea.

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The simple prescription is to consume both in generous quantities

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First up is my interview with Véronique Gillardeau, otherwise known as the Oyster Queen. This charming Belgian married into the 3^rd generation Gillardeau oyster farming family from France's Atlantic Coast several decades ago and has shared in the cultivation of this valuable resource ever since.

Ladies, take note, because oysters seem to be a secret ingredient to staying young looking and radiant.

Next up we hear from Olivier Scala whose father bought a tea company in the 70's called Thé Georges Cannon. Mr Scala has steered his family tea company toward growth and expansion his whole adult life. And now he even has his own son working with him.

Olivier Scala, Thé George Cannon, Paris Saint Germain des Pres,  photo by Paige Donner  copyright 2017

Tea consumption in France is markedly on the rise, with 4 out of 5 French people saying that they regularly drink tea. This interview takes place at the delightful Georges Cannon tea house in the very fashionable St. Germain des Pres district on Paris' Left Bank.

Music provided by FreeSoundTrack.com "Missing u" by John Bannister

Thés George Cannon Tea House 

Gillardeau Oysters

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