French Wine Gift - Unique Wines from Independent French Growers

Wines of the Month: October 2005

Warning: Please make sure first that the address where you would like your order delivered is in a State where such deliveries are legal. For the time being, we can only deliver in Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. See our delivery map.

The descriptions found below are the ones our members will find with their monthly shipment of two bottles of fine wine from the French Wine Club.

Red: Chateau Ventenac 2002

Chateau Ventenac is from the region of Cabardes, Northwest of the city of Carcassonne. The vineyard spreads out over the South Piemont of the Montagne Noire to the North West of Carcassonne. It was the Romans who one century B.C. introduced the vine to the slopes of Cabardes. In 1973 Alain Maurel set up his own business. After a detailed study of the soils (geology), topography, bio-climate and the natural vegetation, he renewed the regional grape varieties in the vineyard to produce red wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache Noir and Syrah. The second stage was to install in 1996 an ultra-modern winery with stainless steel tanks.

Chateau Ventenac is made of 45% Merlot, 30% Grenache, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah. It has an inky robe, marked by notes of figs and dry apricot on the nose. The finish is remarkably round on the palate. It is a powerful wine that will age well 4 to 6 years.

To order, click here: Bottle ($14.75), Case ($141.60 - 20% off!).

White: Vin du Bugey, Jacquère 2004

The Bugey region is located where the Jura Mountains and the French Alps meet, ranging in altitude between 900 and 5400 feet. The scenery is gorgeous: very plush green forest with a multitude of waterfalls, mountain lakes and rivers. The Bugey is one of the oldest wine producing area of France, making wine since at least 388 B.C. Around that time, the gallic tribe living in the area (the Allobroges) became recognized as a good wine-making people, its fame crossed the Alps and soon the tribe started exporting to Rome.

The Jacquere is an Indigenous vine variety. It is very productive but the grapes mature late. The grape skins are thick and the pulp is rich in juice and acrid. It likes limestone soil, which explains why it strives in the Alps.

The Jacquere gives a pale, light golden/green wine, with a nose recalling wild flowers or green apples. In the mouth, it is bone dry, light in body, light in alcohol but very alive and crisp on the palate with a fresh grassy-mint and peppery finish. It will pair very well with shellfish, sea food, and of course Raclette and fondue cheese.

To order, click here: Bottle ($14.75), Case ($141.60 - 20% off!).

Previous 12 Wine-of-the-Month Selections

(Important note: in general, only cases of past Wine-of-the-Month selections are available, and even so, we cannot guarantee that they will be accessible after a certain amount of time. Please call or e-mail us to check on availability before ordering.)

September 2005:
Red: Domaine des Entrefaux Crozes-Hermitage 2002
White: Domaine de la Salette 2004

August 2005:
Red: Château Reignac de Tizac (Bordeaux) 2000
White: Château Hélène “Pénélope” 2004

July 2005:
Red: Domaine des Romarins, Côtes du Rhône 2002
White: Picpoul de Pinet, Domaine des Lauriers, Côteaux du Languedoc 2004

June 2005:
Red: Domaine de Coussergues, Mourvedre 2003
White: Domaine La Bastide, Viognier 2004

May 2005:
Red: Domaine La Millière 2003
White: Chardonnay du Bugey, Domaine Plantaz 2001

April 2005:
Red: Clos Bagatelle St Chinian 2002
White: Apremont 2003

March 2005:
Red: Domaine de Costebonne 2001, Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence
White: Vin de Pays des Côtes de Thau, Sauvignon Blanc “Hugues de Beauvignac”

February 2005:
Red: Château Rauzan Despagne 2003
White: Colombelle 2003

January 2005:
Red: Arrogant Frog 2003
White: Domaine de Valensac 2001

December 2004:
Red: Cossart de Margaux 1999
White: Clos des Verdots Bergerac 2003

November 2004:
Red: Pelican 2003
White: Ballade en Straminer 2002

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