Bougrier Chenin Blanc

I think one word sums up my whole being at the moment, exhausted. As if dividing my time between our new dog, Rooster and spending time with our cat Daisy who is still holed up in the bathroom wasn’t enough. As of today add five 2 day old chicks in the basement. It’s a wonder I have time to drink water let alone wine. But don’t you worry; you know I’ll find a way to get my wine time in. After a brief cool spell, warmer temps are back and that means so are the white wines. Last night we opened a bottle of Bougrier Chenin Blanc 2010.

Peach and citrus aromas lead to a slightly sweet crisp and refreshing white wine. Citrus and honey with a hint of minerality in the finish. Well balance between the acidity and the sugars. I picked this bottle up at Total Wine for $8.99 and will be getting more the next time I’m in Alpharetta.

So just what is minerality and does it truly exist in wines? For me it’s that hint of stone, dirt, chalk or slate. It’s that one characteristic that I can’t quite put my finger on, some may say umami. Most of the time it’s an underlying flavor on the palate or a hint in the nose. I also find it to be more pronounced when there is an absence of fruit. Some wine drinkers and experts dispute its existence claiming grape vines can not pick up minerals from the terroir.

The term minerality is absent from The Oxford Companion to Wine (a wine lover’s bible) but does list the minerals that may be found in wine; iron, calcium, copper, sulfur, to name just a few. The term is also missing from the Wine Aroma Wheel, developed by UC-Davis’ Dr. Ann Noble.

I find this absence interesting considering how many wineries and appellations rely on the importance of geology and soil composition making up the wine’s terroir. After doing some research on the minerality phenomenon, I still have no conclusive evidence as to if it truly exists or not. Since wine descriptors are subjective, I say if you pick up the flavor of stone, chalk or even dirt, it exists for you.  

I think I’m a little brain dead from reading about minerality (it’s not as exciting as one would hope) and taking care of all of the farm animals. There will be much to share in the next few weeks and months.

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Doulce France Vouvray Chenin Blanc 2008

Have I mentioned lately how hot it is? I mean really, 98 degrees for an actual high and it’s not even officially summer yet. Someone remind me how much I was complaining in January because it was so miserably cold. We’ve gone from one extreme to the other, just like I have in my wine choices lately. I haven’t written about a red wine in some time, don’t worry reds, I haven’t forgotten you but for now, it’s time for another French white wine, Doulce France Chenin Blanc 2008 by Bougrier Depuis from the Loire Valley appellation.

Colors are pale yellow with slight green tinge, subtle fruit aromas consisting of apple and grapefruit. Flavors are crisp and clean with mango, pineapple and peach. Has a lot of residual sugar making the wine seem like a giant wine cooler. Still not bad for back yard sipping, would also make a great aperitif or cocktail party wine.

Like many wines from the Vouvray appellation, the wine is most likely 100% Chenin Blanc. The back label lists the wine as demi-sec or off-dry but I found the wine to be a lot sweeter for this description to be accurate. Doulce France Vouvray Chenin Blanc is another Alfio Moiconi Selection, our friend from Total Wine. For $9.99, the wine is very simple rather delightful.

As the cicadas begin their nightly serenade signaling another lazy summer evening, all is right in my world tonight.

Pairs well with salty appetizers, spicy sausage or jerk chicken.


Here’s to Sunny, our oldest Koi who we lost last night. Good bye to the orange whale.

My rating - We'll drink the rest tomorrow.

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Lighten up the summer with Bougrier’s Chenin Blanc 2008 Alfio Moriconi selection

Every year around this time my house enters what I call the “dark ages”. By that I mean, this is the time of year we begin closing the blinds on the west side of the house in an effort to block the afternoon sun and sweltering Florida summer heat both which cause the poor AC to work double time. So how do you lighten up the summer, that’s easy, those light and crisp summer white wines. Lucky for you, I’ve finally found plenty of tasty and affordable whites, to share with you through the summer months. My latest great white wine find is Chenin Blanc 2008 by Bougrier from the Anjou appellation of Loire Valley, France.

The color in the glass is a pale yellow, aromas of pear, peach and green apple signal the start of something good to come. Soft fruit forward flavors packed with pear, honey, apple. The wine is light and refreshing, perfect balance between sweet and dry. The 100% Chenin Blanc grapes used in the wine provide for a champagne or sparkling wine taste minus the fizzy little bubbles.

An ideal wine for sipping and sitting outside in those warm Florida summer evenings. Noticed the website mentioned this meal pairs well with a tropical meal, and any meal consumed outdoors in Florida from May to October automatically qualifies as a tropical meal.

Many of you may be wondering who Alfio Moriconi is, he’s the Vice President of European Buying of Total Wine & More. I have mixed feelings about this one. While I do much of my wine shopping at Total Wine, due to their low prices and my quest to find inexpensive wines, this man represents big conglomerates. While Bougrier’s vineyards is family owned, this bit of information creates a conflict within me. Is he putting his name on the label to sell more wine at his big box retail store? Do all labels contain this info or just the ones that end up at Total Wine & More?

Well, the wine is delicious so I won’t dwell on this inner conflict any further. Many of you know, I’m not much of a white wine drinker but I have found several French white wines to be truly delicious and perfect outdoor wine drinking.

If anyone has any whites you recommend, please contact me, I love to experiment.

My rating – Too good to put down

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