I’m a California guy, so my wheelhouse is in new world wines. Having said that I do have some Spanish, Argentinian, Australian and Southern Rhone wines, all of which I enjoy immensely. When it comes to Burgundy and Bordeaux I’m lost, but willing to try.
Yesterday I went to the local wine shop and picked up the following French offerings completely blind. If you know any of these wines I’d be interested in your thoughts.
If you’re in to California I’d start with the Chateaus that hire Michele Rolland for their wine-maker. He’s likely to lean in a style that will make Bordeaux enjoyable for you at the start. Once you’ve found a few of those then maybe check out some of the other houses in the regions you enjoy the most. Given your leaning to a more new-world palate I’d avoid Burgundy for now…just my $0.02
Bad time to be trying to get into Bordeaux/Burgundy with a string of weak and/or small vintages on the horizon. However 09/10 are spectacular in both and for the moment this is plenty on the market, but this won’t last. Either get into it quickly and buy up what’s left or revisit in 4 years or so.
stop buying random bottles and go to tastings, start a wine group to do your own tastings, and read: there are several threads on how to start into Burgundy.
Thank you for the tip and I’m familiar with Michele Roland, so such a strategy makes perfect sense. I’ve enjoyed reading Bill Klapp’s thread traditional vs. modernist Bordeaux, as well as Panos Kakaviatos post on GPL.
Good advise… they weren’t expensive wines, so I’m not sweating it too much. I had a nice white Burgundy for Thanksgiving that I enjoyed… was much better after 24 hours of air time. Was the white Burg in the same league as the Walter Hansel Chard I also had at the same sitting? Not really.
I belong to a wine club, but the owner is focused on low production boutique California wineries. He has a large membership list and I’m sure many are into Bordeaux’s and Burgundy’s, so maybe I’ll suggest we do an all French tasting and see what he thinks.
My bad, after further inspection it was a Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley - a 2011 Chateau de Montfort Vouvray. A friend brought two bottles over to pair with Thanksgiving turkey. It was a decent wine for the price and paired nicely.