WINES

2017 Domaine de Pallus, ‘Les Pensees de Pallus’, Chinon, France
2006 Château Gaby, Canon-Fronsac, Bordeaux, France
2018 Oddero, Barbaresco ‘Gallina’, Piemonte, Italy

2017 DOMAINE DE PALLUS
’Les Pensees de Pallus’, Chinon, Loire Valley, France

Cabernet Franc (100%)

On the South bank of the Loire River and surrounding the tributary river the Vienne, Chinon represents the pinnacle of red wine production in the Loire Valley, and the home of some of the most classic and elegant Cabernet Franc wines in the world. Red wines from Chinon are 100% Cabernet Franc by law and exhibit the purity of this area’s soil and climate. While the climate here is slightly warmer and more continental than the coastal Loire regions, it is still a markedly cooler and drier area than the other major Cabernet Franc regions of the world, namely in Bordeaux, California, and Tuscany. This produces Cabernet Franc with typically higher acidity and more elegance/softer tannins. The wines can be truly beautiful and still have excellent aging potential from the top producers. As the parent grape of both Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc, Cab Franc possesses natural pyrazine qualities (think bell pepper) that spread into both of these other grapes. Classic notes of red fruits, herbs, and gravelly minerality can often be found.

Domaine de Pallus cultivates 15 hectares of grand cru vineyard sites in the region, and Les Pensees de Pallus comes from one of the very top vineyards. Farmed biodynamically, the vines grow in soil comprised of sand and rocks rich in iron and calcareous clay. The wine has a slow fermentation and then ages 12 months in Burgundy barrels and another 6 months in concrete vats. This wine is incredibly expressive with gorgeous floral aromas mixing with the hallmark red fruits. Touches of Cabernet Franc’s hallmark ‘earthiness’ linger in the finish. The wine has wonderful aging potential. It drinks beautiful today and will continue to do so for another 10 years without problem!

Serve at cool room temperature/cellar temperature 55º-60ºF
Drink: 2022-2035
Food pairings: Pepper-crusted steak, salmon, game, grilled or roasted meats, or drink alone.

About the Loire Valley
Known primarily for its white wines, the Loire Valley stretches from the Atlantic Coast to the central plateau of France. The Loire is comprised of 4 large zones, within which are the communal designations for the major AOC level wines. Chinon is located in Touraine, as is Vouvray where some of the best Chenin Blanc is produced. Sancerre, home of the world’s great Sauvignon Blancs, is part of the Central Vineyards, and the magical Chenin Blanc’s of Savennières can be found in Anjou-Saumur. It is a region marked by historic and mesmerizing châteaux, fantastic seafood, and also the birthplace of Joan of Arc (Orléans).

2006 CHÂTEAU GABY
Canon-Fronsac, Bordeaux, France

Merlot (80%) - Cabernet Sauvignon (10%) - Cabernet Franc (10%)

This is the 2nd offering from Château Gaby for the Stem & Flute Society (going with the 2008 from the September offering). Canon-Fronsac is part of the famed Right-Bank in Bordeaux, near the communes of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion. While Left Bank Bordeaux wines are known for their powerful and graphite-laded Cabernet Sauvignon based blends, the Right Bank is the home of some of the world’s finest Merlot and Cabernet Franc-based wines in the world. Château Gaby has long been a leading property in the region, making wines since the 1600s. The winemaking and growing is all organic and the Merlot thrives on the clay-rich soil of the region. 2008 was an under-the-radar vintage for wines from Bordeaux squeezed in between the historic vintages of 2005 and 2009. The sunny and dry summer without extreme temperatures led to ripe and happy grapes that produced wines of elegance and subtlety rather than intensity and power. There is still plenty to grab your attention in this wine, though! Classic velvet-like tannins from the Merlot are bolstered by the earthiness of the Cabernet Franc and the color and structure of the Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas of plum, blackberry, black cherry, black pepper, and notes of wet earth make the wine almost ‘Burgundian’. The wine is in the midst of a great period in its evolution and should continue aging well over the next decade.

Open at 60º-65ºF and let the wine interact with some oxygen or decant.
Drink: now-2030
Food pairings: Pork chops, hamburgers, steak frites, duck. Can work with a fatty fish like salmon if sauced and seasoned appropriately. Avoid spicy food pairings.

2018 ODDERO
Barbaresco ‘Gallina’, Piemonte, Italy

Nebbiolo (100%)

Despite its moniker as ‘the Queen of Wine’ (or perhaps because of it), Barbaresco tends to hide in the shadow of its ‘big brother’ Barolo. In truth, Barbaresco plays second to fiddle to no wines anywhere in the world. The wines of Barbaresco are just as powerful, elegant, and profound as their neighbors and are among the most expressive examples of Nebbiolo in the world. Located around the three townships of Barbaresco, Neive, and Treiso, the hills of Barbaresco are mixtures of limestone, sand, and clay soils, often with marine fossils lurking near the surface. The best Crus are identified as single vineyard wines, and the Gallina cru counts among them. The Gallina vineyard is located near the town of Neive, and there are several producers who make cru Barbaresco from the site. Oddero is an historic producer in Piemonte and produces a classically elegant Barbaresco here. A 25-day maceration and fermentation lends way to aging in 40hL large oak barrels of French and Austrian oak. The wine has strong tannins, typical of traditional Nebbiolo production. The tannins are met with bright acidity and a gorgeous floral bouquet. Notes of cherries, mocha, and sweet spices integrate with the tannins, creating a fantastic drinking experience.

Serve at 60ºF. The wine will open up beautiful over several hours in the bottle or in the glass.
Drink: now-2040.
Food pairings: A great wine to meditate on! Best wish lean, roasted meats and game, aged cheeses or blue cheeses/roquefort, hearty soups, roasted vegetables.

October Wine Club