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Thursday, April 15, 2010

Something for you white wine lovers, Chateau de Nages la Reserve White 2008


For the past several months people ask, “when are you going to write about white wines?” Well, there’s a reason why I focus on red wines, I typically don’t like white wines that fall under the $9.99 range. I find them too sweet, too buttery and just not enjoyable. Doesn’t mean they’re bad, just means my palate doesn’t appreciate them as much as it does red wines. On my last trip to my Tampa Total Wine store, I wandered down the French wine aisle hoping inexpensive French white wines would be more palatable than their US counterparts. I also was able to sample from their wine bar and even received a $1 off coupon when I decided to purchase one of the wines, Chateau de Nages La Reserve White 2008, offered up for sampling. Free wine samples and $1 off coupon, has that for budget wine drinking.

Color is a pale yellow, aromas are promising, crisp apple, pineapple and a hint of butter. Flavors boasting of green apple, pear and citrus, smooth and light acids. It’s actually pretty tasty for a white wine, especially now that we’re coming into the outdoor wine drinking season here in the Tampa Bay area.

Wine Info:
Terroir: " Grès ", rolled pebbles and red clay.Varietals: 60% Grenache Blanc, 40% Roussanne.Chateau de Nages vineyards, Costières de Nîmes, is the southern most vineyard of the Rhone Valley. Four generations of winemakers, the family takes pride in working in harmony with nature and preserving the land for future generations. Their conviction to giving back to the land has the family committed to finding alternate resources that will not damage the ecology, such as finding an alternate to the use of copper which has devastating effects on the land.

Of late there has been a concern for ecological practices in French vineyards. Winegrowers are shying away from chemical fertilizers and turning to compost and finding alternatives to chemical weeding because of its effects on the soil. The consequences can sometimes be devastating: soil erosion, biological retrogradation of soil or bacteria that can destroy vine roots.

Copper salts are the only efficient fungicides shown to reduce downy mildew (peronospora) in organic farming. While highly efficient the copper can accumulate in the soils causing them to loose fertility.
The challenge winegrowers face is trying to reduce the use of copper while still maintaining healthy vines and soil.

The Michel Gassier website goes above the typical wine food pairing, including cheese, meats, herbs, garden, seafood, cooking method, sauces and dessert recommendations. Got to love the French for always thinking about food and wine.

While I favor reds, I’m going to start incorporating more white wine reviews and hopefully I can do them justice. If there are some white wines you think I should try, priced under $9.99, let me know.

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