Here's a wine that intriguingly contrasts the 2010 Cugat Cuvee Francis Bordeaux we sent out as it shows the unique charms of the Cab Franc grape as opposed to the Merlot-Cab Sauv of the Medoc. This is another Frank discovery and a very worthy use of $20! And he's spot on with the 'ribs' recommendation. I can't wait to try it!- JR
2010 Domaine de Pallus 'Pensees de Pallus' Chinon, Loire Valley
List Price: $23.97 email Special Price: $19.99
We made a lot of friends last year with the incredible Domaine de Pallus Chinon from the amazingly talented young winemaker Bertrand Sourdais. His prestige cuvee, made only in the very best years, typically sells for around $45.00, a real bargain when you consider Bertrand's meteoric rise to fame and the popularity of his wines.
You see, after stints at Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Santa Rita in Chile, Alvaro Palacios and Atuata in Spain, Bertrand returned to his native France to take over the family estate near the town of Chinon in the Loire Valley.
Applying his considerable experience, dynamic energy and radical approach to winemaking, Bertrand has cast Chinon in an entirely different mold, light years away from the lean and edgy Cabernet Francs that we are accustomed to from this old and revered appellation.
Enter the Domaine de Pallus Pensees de Pallus, the domaine's so-called 'regular' cuvee, if you can call any wine that Bertrand makes 'regular.' This phenomenal wine is 100% Cabernet Franc, sourced from parcels of different soil types, macerated over a long period of time and held in seasoned oak barrels for an extended period. The result is a dark, concentrated wine that overflows with blueberry fruit, burnished leather and grilled meat. That's right, my tasting note read 'charred spare ribs' to be exact and if ever there was a wine to serve with your barbecued masterpieces, the Pensees de Pallus is that wine.
Happily, this seriously good wine is not seriously priced, only $19.99 per bottle, making it one of the best values you're apt to find for your summertime enjoyment. You might even want to stock the cellar with a few extra bottles for next year and beyond because a wine this good is only going to get better.
Wine Spectator: A very solid, muscular style, with a gutsy structure pumping along underneath the blackberry, black currant and roasted tobacco leaf notes. Broad and smoky through the finish, this features hints of violet and sweet tapenade.92 points
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