Club Foody Wine Review – July 13th, 2016

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m originally from Montréal, Province of Québec – Canada. I am proud to be French Canadian and enjoy speaking the language as well which gives me the opportunity of communicating in two different languages and experiencing two different cultures at the same time. In recognition of my roots and to commemorate the French National Day, known in France as La Fête Nationale and La Bastille Day in Québec and English speaking countries, I selected two very affordable wines from France.
 
A longtime favorite, I’ve picked this delectable Jaffelin Bourgogne Aligoté 2012, from the world famous Burgundy region in Eastern France. Dry and light-bodied, this wine has a lovely subtle aroma of mineral, herbs and citrus fruits. Expect an enjoyable combination of green apple, Anjou pear and lemon. Its grapes bring a pale straw color with a nice clean crisp acidity on the palate. This Aligoté wine is the perfect match for any seafood dish such as oysters on the half shell. It can also be beautifully paired for a light lunch with a mixed green salad topped with cheese along with a balsamic vinaigrette or even a bagel with salmon, cream cheese, a few slices of red onion and some capers. For an unforgettable tasting experience, this wine can be found around $16.95 at your local wine/liquor store.

The Rhône region in Southern France has delivered many great wines and this one is no exception. La Vieille Ferme Côtes du Ventoux 2014 Grenache, is a beautiful light to medium-bodied red wine. This supple young Grenache has a mix of red and black fruits such as cherry, raspberry and blackberry with a smoky note and a touch of pepper along with a soft fresh acidity. This wine is not very complex and because of that, it can be paired with almost anything although I would try to avoid any strong flavored foods such as lamb because the flavor of the wine might be lost. It is a great wine considering the price at around $15.00
 
À votre santé! (To your health!)
 
Francine Lizotte
Wine & Restaurant Aficionado