July Featured Wines – Comtesse Marion Viognier & Comtesse Marion Pinot Noir, Pays d’Oc, France

Our July selection is from Comtesse Marion whose vineyards are outside of Vias near the Mediterranean coast. Their wines carry the Pays d’Oc designation since they meet specific production standards that are authorized for the Languedoc-Roussillon region. The Vic family is a five generation wine producer that uses sustainable methods without herbicides or pesticides.

2023 Comtesse Marion Viognier is 100% Viognier grapes. When deciding between Comtesse Marion Viognier or Sauvignon Blanc, Michelle Coleman, my sales rep, said the Viognier would be a great “go to” summer white. She called it “juicy.” The 2022 Comtesse Pinot Noir is our red selection which is grown on 30 plus year old vines in the rocky, volcanic soils of the region. It is 100% Pinot Noir grapes. I selected the Pinot Noir over other Comtesse Marion reds since French Pinots are a pleasing diversion from more costly US Pinots.

2023 Comtesse Marion Viognier $14

This viognier is bursting with flavors of white peach, pear, and melon. There are hints of lemon zest and blood orange that add wonderful complexity and juiciness to this succulent white, which finishes with a silky texture. Serve with mild, creamy curries, mild spicy pad thai, chicken, pork, and creamy cheeses (as well as some hard cheeses like Gruyère).Alcohol: 13.0%

2022 Comtesse Marion Pinot Noir $15

This gorgeously balanced Pinot Noir shows sublime flavors of fresh wild strawberry, blood orange, and redcherries. It is layered and juicy, with a silky texture that keeps you coming back for more. The importer calls this wine “ethereal and layered, with the texture of pure silk.” This fruit-forward wine is a nice, lower alcohol summer red. Alcohol: 12.5%

September Featured Wines -Terres Des Treize Vents, Picpoul de Pinet, Languedouc, France & Terres Des Treize Vents Pays d’Oc Rouge, France

The white selection is 2020 Terres Des Treize Vents, Picpoul de Pinet. Picpoul de Pinet is an AOC appellation within southern France’s Languedoc region. It specializes in crisp, well-textured citrus-scented white wines exclusively from Picpoul grapes. In March we featured a California Picpoul by Bonny Doon. You may remember this as a crisp, green wine with minerality due to a dry climate. For this wine those characteristics come from the Mediterranean Sea climate.

The red is 2020 Terre Des Treize, Pays d’Oc Rouge. This blend carries the IGP classification consistent with the varietals used in the region. It is a blend of 50% Petit-Verdot & 50% Syrah. After a great deal of searching I have found little information on this wine, so I am just going with my sales reps recommendation! This is how we explore wines of the world! I am taking a bottle home to taste tonight. My review is below!

2020 Terres Des Treize Vents, Picpoul de Pinet, Languedouc, France $13

This wine is very dry, crisp and fresh; You catch apple and citrus flavors with a clean nice clean finish. Picpoul de Pinet can often be overly plain & simple, but this has a lovely, subtly fruity quality. Drink the youngest vintage available – it’s best when it’s freshest. Great with fresh seafood…Alcohol: 13%

2020 Terres Des Treize Vents Pays d’Oc Rouge, France $11

It is a nice 50/50 blend – medium body without a lot of tannins expected with Petit-Verdot. The lighter Syrah tannins balance the heavy Petit-Verdot tannins. This is a good pairing for charcuterie or spicy meat dishes. Very drinkable – especially for the price. Alcohol: 12.5%