This will be the inaugural entry in two series of posts entitled “Cornerstore finds” and “Tasting Notes” respectively. This post will fit into both categories, but many times I will publish under “Tasting Notes” only. The intention is to chronicle what we are tasting/having with dinner that day. These will inevitably become content entries on the Corkdork Application. Cornerstore Finds will record purchases made at retailers around San Francisco and eventually beyond. I will include importer/distributor information where possible, in case you are interested in finding them in a different market. Now, on to the wine… !
This first entry will be of wines from the kingdom of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir – Burgundy. It appears, with the current state of our economic affairs, that the availability of moderately priced wines, from this and other regions in the upper tier of pricing, has become more prevalent. This is not to say that the lower price point has come as surrogate representative in place of quality. The pace of sales has slowed for the very top allocations, and importers have begun to focus more on the quality that has always been present down the chain.
The two wines tasted in this issue come from The Mâconnais, a primarily white wine region between The Côte Chalonnaise and Beaujolais. This Southernmost of the major Chardonnay regions in Burgundy produces three times the amount of white wine than the rest of Burgundy combined. While most of the wine made is simple quaffable every day white, there are some exceptional examples of top quality wine.
2004 Domaine Emilian Gillet – Jean Thevenet, Viré-Clessé AOC
Legendary producer Jean Thevenet’s mid-level white from the AC Viré-Clessé, is a stunning example of just how powerful and how complex a wine from the other end of Burgundy can be. Chardonnay is king in the Mâcon, and this one is beautiful. Born of the Mâcon-Villages level AOCs of Mâcon-Viré and Mâcon-Clessé, this AOC gained its elevated status in 1997. Jean Thevenet farms under strict organic practices. Yields are exceptionally low, resulting in wines of wonderful concentration and racy acidity.
This delicious wine exuded flavors of crisp apple, white flowers, honey, and the right (balanced) amount of butterscotchy oak. Full of limestone minerality, it also showed herbal tones of tarragon and had a wonderful texture, lots of acid, and a supreme balance. This wine will drink beautifully for years to come.
Price: $25
Importer: Martine’s Wines
Retailer: Bi-Rite Market
2007 Mâcon Charnay AOC, Domaine Manciat-Poncet
A great choice for an everyday Chardonnay, Domaine Manciat-Poncet’s Mâcon Charnay exhibits aromas aromas of waxy lemon and pie crust. Driven by a backbone of bright crisp acidity the wine opens as a cornucopia of tree fruits.
Price: $15
Importer: Beaune Imports
Retailer: Bi- Rite Market
These are both great pairing wines. While the former from Thevenet would best suit roasted chicken or fish with beurre blanc, the offering by Manciat-Poncet would be a great addition to a picnic or oysters on the half-shell.
CorkDork 