All Columns in Alphabetical Order


Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Champagne Wishes: Les Deux Rives, Corbieres Rouge 2009 Highly Recommended by Whom You Know's Champagne Wishes Panel. Ooohh La La Sud De France Impresses Us!

The label on this bottle tells the story of its name, and provides us with a visual sense of history. The vintage postcard depicts a scene from the 1920's: it's the Canal du Midi, and became the gateway for transporting the wines of the region to the ports. This is the Languedoc-Roussillon region; Corbieres is the "appellation", in the South of France (Sud de France). Picturesque, bountiful and fragrant, the South of France conjures visions of languid days and wine-filled nights. Basking in the breezes from the Mediterranean, the grapes of this region impart a fun-loving spirit. Our rouge 2009 is comprised of 40% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre, and 10% Carignan. The Carignan grape is well known in this region, and is often used to balance the principals, in this case, the Grenache and Syrah, to give a full body, and rich tone to the wine. The blend of 4 types of grapes gives this red wine it's "nose": soft, deeply fruity, with a sense of the earth from which they come. It's a must to have around for drop-ins, and as an accompaniment to your daily lives. Grilled meats, mild cheese go best with this Corbiere, so plan your menus! Its versatility gives it a long seasonal life: start with this red in the summer time, and continue into the transition of the seasons, into the holidays. The ruby/violet color reflects the joys of the season. The color carries the rich herbal parfum to your nose and imparts a slight flavor of the oak. Make this wine a staple, and use it as hostess gifts. It's for now and it's a good value.



There is nothing we love more than a great glass of wine for the holidays, except for maybe The Peachy Deegan cocktail of course! OK, you know us too well, we like our wine during the holidays, and everyday, especially the excellent wine selection from Sud De France. If you are anything like us - you will too. Sud De France "is a testimony to the Mediterranean way of life" and we just can not get enough of their great products and delicious wines. We loved the Les Deux Rives Corbeires Rouge 2009. It was light but with a great rich flavor of berries and earthy flavors. We picked up notes of cocoa and leather as well. It was perfectly smooth and enjoyable. The wine is made of 40% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre and 10% carigan. From the vast vineyards of Corbeires, which is along the Meditteranean coast of France. This savory blend lends itself well to grilled meats, poultry, cheese, or simply enjoy on it's own. Priced at an excellent point, this is the bottle to bring over on your many holiday party stops. Your friends will delight in this awesome wine and you will be the hit of the party. That is of course if you can find it in your heart to share your wine. We find that difficult to do sometimes, but hey, it is the season of giving!


As it gets colder, I turn more and more towards red wine. The Les Deux Rives Corbeires Rouge 2009 is a great table wine to have on hand. Ready to drink now it’s Ruby color is intense. With violet shades mixed in its color is inviting. I am not sure I have ever tried this blend of different grapes before. Mostly made up of Grenache and Syrah yet combined with Mourvedre and Carignan. My first taste revealed fresh red fruits that were rich and subtle.. Followed by a darker taste of black fruits with light liquorice aromas... Great volume! It has beautiful texture and length on cassis and cherry notes. A solid red wine that is easy to serve with any dish. Good with spicy foods and a peppercorn steak. At this price point you will trick your guests and your tastebuds. So you can feel confident about pouring this for wine-lover guests without embarrassment and without breaking the bank.
Grape Varieties: Grenache 40%, Syrah 30%, Mourvèdre20% & Carignan 10%

Splenid! Appetizing! Warm! Those were the best adjectives I could use 
to describe my recent experience tasting les Deux Rives Corbeires 

Rouge 2009. I notices some great volume on my first sip after 
uncorking the wine. There were a lot of berry and fruit flavors as 
well. For its economical price tag, it is the perfect wine for any 
occasion. With the holidays coming up, this wine would pair nicely
with that smoked ham or turkey dinner. It was also make for a perfect 
housewarming gift when going to a family member's house for the 

holidays. The great silky tannins and textures make this a good choice 
for an all-rounded wine. Even paired with a fruity desert after 
dinner, the les deux rives wine would complement well. Two thumbs up 
in my book for the les deux rives coreires rouge 2009!


***

Vignerons de la Méditerranée, Corbières France 

Corbières Rouge 2009 



The vineyard 

The vast vineyard of Corbières stretches along the beautiful Mediterranean Coast of France, from the ancient Roman Capital of Narbonne to the Pyrenees Mountains. Les Deux Rives is a blend of wines from the best vineyards of the Val d’Orbieu, the most acclaimed wine company in the Languedoc region of France. The name, Les Deux Rives, refers to the twin banks of the Canal du Midi built in 1600 by Louis XIV to help develop the economy of southern France. The Canal du Midi ran through the Corbières region connected the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. It was one of the most important routes for transporting wines of the Languedoc-Roussillon to northern France, Europe and beyond. The label, in fact, is a rendition of a 1920s postcard of the Canal. 



Harvest and Ageing 

Carignan and Mourvèdre are hand harvested for carbonic maceration while Syrah and Grenache are mechanically harvested (crush grapes for method traditionnelle). The harvest is done in optimum ripeness. The goal is to find the perfect phenolic maturity and the best balance between colors, tannins, aromas, sugar and acidity. All grapes are vinified separately, and blending is done after malolactic fermentation. Maturation in tank. 



Wine Makers Notes 

Ruby color, with violet shades. Intense nose, fresh red fruits at first, then black fruits at the ventilation with light liquorice aromas. Fresh mouth, round and full of red fruits. Good volume, silky tannins beautiful texture and length on cassis and cherry notes. 



Finished Alcohol: 12.5% 

Residual Sugar: Dry 

Grape Varieties; Grenache 40%, Syrah 30%, Mourvèdre 20% and Carignan 10% 

Yield: 45hl/ha[1]



Corbières Appellation 





Corbières is an appellation in the Languedoc region in the south of France. Located in the foothills of the Pyrenees, it contains so many different soil types and microclimates that it has been subdivided into 11 terroirs. These are: Montagne d'Alaric, Saint Victor, Fontfroide, Queribus, Boutenac, Termenès, Lézignan, Lagrasse, Sigean, Durban, and Serviès.[2]


The most common grape variety is Carignan, but Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache, and others are increasingly common. Corbières Boutenac has been granted its own subappellation for wines that are made of at least 30 percent Carignan. 


Most of the wines are ripe, powerful reds, but some white wine is also made from varieties such as Bourboulenc, Maccabeo, and Grenache Blanc. 

Corbières has been known in the past for cheap, uncomplicated red wine produced in vast quantities to quench the thirst of northern France. However, over the past twenty years things have been quietly changing. The producers have organized themselves and attained Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) status, and adopted new technology while still retaining the best of their old traditions; poor quality vines have been pulled up and replaced with better ones. The best Corbières wines can now hold their own with the classic French vintages of Bordeaux and Burgundy, and prove it by regularly snapping up prizes at national competitions. Some of the very best wines, by their nature, are produced in small quantities and it is rare to find them outside the region of production. Yet at the same time, compared to better known wine regions, prices are still very reasonable. The producers are justly proud of their achievements, and willing to demonstrate the point by offering tastings on the spot. [3]






[1] http://www.pasternakwine.com/_webapp_2839523/Les_Deux_Rives 


[2] http://www.terroir-france.com/region/lr_corbieres.htm 


[3] http://www.corbieresweb.com/-Wine- 







Back to TOP