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Côté Mas Rouge Intense 2016

Côté Mas Rouge Intense 2016

An excellent choice for the value minded, the 2016 Côté Mas Rouge Intense is a classic Languedoc-Roussillon blend of 45% Grenache, 25% Carignan, 15% and Cinsault with a splash of Merlot and Syrah. Welcoming aromas of macerated strawberries, cherries, a little funk—forest floor, decomposing leaves, mushrooms, vanilla, and anise grace the nose. In the mouth, […]

Department 66 Others 2015

Department 66 Others 2015

A sultry blend of Grenache, Carignan, Syrah, and Mourvedre Department 66’s 2015 Others red blend opens with enveloping aromas of blackberry, ripe plum, violets, and Garrigue. Plush fruit and softly-textured tannins are held in balance by a rippling chord of acidity. The close is restrained, tinged with the stony illuvium fingerprint of the Pyrénées-Orientals, a […]

Paul Mas Château Paul Mas Coteaux du Languedoc Clos des Mures 2016

Paul Mas Château Paul Mas Coteaux du Languedoc Clos des Mures 2016

From old vines grown in clay and limestone soils the 2016 Paul Mac Clos de Mûres is a substantive blend of 83% Syrah, 12% Grenache, and 5% Mourvedre. The rim is vibrant blue-violet, with fresh, penetrating aromas of boysenberry, wild blueberry, and plum followed by a top note of cocoa powder and black licorice. Chalky […]

Côte Mas Blanc Méditerranée 2016

Côte Mas Blanc Méditerranée 2016

The 2016 Côte Mas Blanc Méditerranée is an inviting blend of 35% Grenache Blanc, 25% Vermentino, 25% Chardonnay, and 15% Sauvignon Blanc It’s a pretty blend with vivacious aromas of Asian pear, star fruit, lemon drop, lemongrass, and spring flowers. Round on the palate, with a core of juicy yellow fruit nicely offset by bright […]

Côté Mas St. Hilaire Crémant de Limoux Brut NV

Côté Mas St. Hilaire Crémant de Limoux Brut NV

Aged sur point for twelve months, the Côté Mas Brut St. Hilaire is a blend of 60% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin Blanc, 10% Pinot Noir, and 10% Mauzac crafted from vines planted in clay and limestone soils at elevations between 820 and 920 feet. In the glass, it’s the color of onion skin and is generously […]

Chef Richard Verhagen’s Cassoulet Rustico — Part II

Cassoulet

As with all of my partner’s dishes, they are an intersection of cultures that meld and rub up against each other in surprising ways. There is a kind of irreverence to them, a devil may care approach in the use of ingredients and techniques. He’s not at all shy about breaking the rules. This Cassoulet, […]

Department 66 Fragile Rosé 2017

Department 66 Fragile Rosé 2017

Orin Swift winemaker Dave Phinney’s latest project is Department 66, a collection of sleekly packaged wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon. His 2017 Fragile Rosé is salmon-hued with expressive aromas of white peach, cherry blossom, field-ripened strawberries, and orange zest. There is more concentration on the palate than the nose belies, with ample depth and fruit at […]

M. Chapoutier Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Côtes du Roussillon Blanc 2017

M. Chapoutier Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Côtes du Roussillon Blanc 2017

Once again, M. Chapoutier’s 2017 Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Côtes du Roussillon Blanc exceeds expectations for its modest price point. This approachable blend 50% Grenache Blanc, 20% Marsanne, 20% Macabeo, and, yes, 10% Vermentino is crisp and bright with wafting aromas of d’Anjou pear, yellow apple, and lemon drop, followed by top notes of lemon […]

Department 66 D66 2014

Department 66 D66 2014

Dave Phinney’s latest project is Department 66, this bottling, a sublime blend of Grenache, Syrah and Carignan from France’s Maury AOC—a region famous for its fortified Vin Doux Naturel wines, not its still wines. And the D22 did not disappoint—it’s a powerhouse—a deep dive into blueberries, blackberry crumble, charcuterie, baker’s chocolate, anise, and mountain herbs […]

Château de Saint Cosme Little James’ Basket Press Blanc 2014

Château de Saint Cosme Little James' Basket Press Blanc 2014

An inexpensive yet charming offering from Château de Saint Cosme, the 2014 is a blend of 40% Sauvignon Blanc and 60% Viognier. Four years on, the Sauvignon blanc dominates with pronounced aromas of pineapple, muskmelon, white peach, lemon verbena, and dried grass clippings. In the mouth, it’s medium bodied—the acidity hits the sides of the […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com