2012 Jean-Jacques ‘Marie Antoinette’ Pouilly-Fuisse

In honor of Bastille Day I’d like to give a tip of the hat to Jean-Jacques Vincent’s ‘Marie Antoinette’ Pouilly-Fuisse, a vibrant and elegant Chardonnay from one of Burgundy’s larger AOC’s. Pouilly-Fuisse peaked in popularity in the 1970’s, during which time the appellation turned mainstream and found a place for itself in the immortal lyrics of rock legends like Hall & Oates and Jimmy Buffett. Decades ago, the region produced massive amounts of cheap, watery Chardonnay with the sole purpose to intoxicate. Fast-forward to now, when many of the growers have started bottling their own grapes, creating a better connection between the vintner and the land, and you’ve got a great, inexpensive refreshing Chardonnay. The ‘Marie Antoinette’ is a great example of Pouilly-Fuisse’s potential without breaking the bank at less than $25 a bottle, but it drinks like sixty. Rich D’Anjou pears and bright Fuji apple are backed up with clean limestone flavors from the soil. Give it some air and you’ll get a soft, creamy Chardonnay, as it can be a little acidic at first. Its great by itself, but you should definitely pair it with some Brie or triple crème. Straight up.

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2010 Vieux Chateau Saint André

Known for their high quality, wines from the right bank of the Dordogne River (known as Libournais wines) in Bordeaux, France never fail to impress. The 2010 Vieux Chateau Saint André hailing from the largest title within the Saint-Emilion appellation, Montagne Saint-Emilion, is no exception to this standard. This quintessential Bordeaux is made by Jean-Claude Berrouet, best known for his work at Chateau Petrus and Dominus Estate, and his son Jean-François. Predominantly merlot, this blend has supple and rich tannins, dark fruit flavors like blackberry and plum, and an overall smoothness that is very appealing. True to the winemaker’s intent, this wine expresses the best of Bordeaux terrior.