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William's Best Picks
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Pick #1: Beaucastel, Chateauneuf-du.Pape, blanc, 2008 (€48.00)
When you think of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, you almost always think of robust reds. We unfortunately ignore much of the whites that come from the Rhône valley, which is a mistake. The Chateau de Beaucastel, run by the Perrin family since 1978, makes one of the most memorable of these. The estate, which has been in existence since at least the 16th century, has about 100 acres under vine, of which only 7 are devoted to their superb whites. The vines are treated organically with no pesticides, and all are hand picked to insure ripeness and healthy grapes. The white is composed of 80% Roussane—some are from 40 years old vines—with 15% Grenache blanc, and 5% additional varieties to round it out, left in barrel for about 8 months. The flavors are distinctly honey and acacia, with a crisp mineral finish. The wine is smooth but hearty, and best not too chilled. Drinkable now, it will last for years.
Tradition in Burgundy counts for a great deal. The Faiveley family has owned their vineyards since 1825 and from that experience have constantly produced some of the finest and long lasting wines in the area. Gevrey-Chambertin is a small village located in the fabled Côte des Nuits south of Dijon. Its wines are powerful and earthy in the best sense of the word. The “La Combe des Moines” faces east on clay soil, and produces one of the most profound wines from the region. The Faiveley family only cultivates about an acre of it, pruning the vines during the summer so that the 6 or 8 bunches remaining on the vine pick up the most intense flavors. Pure pinot noir, the wine is aged in oak for about 14 to 16 months before bottling. The flavors are very fresh with red fruit dominating, but with spicy wood smoke coming through very clearly. Don’t ever hesitate with this wine, but know that only a little more than 5,000 bottles are produced for world-wide consumption.
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