This week's featured wine makes a nice companion to last week's. It follows in the theme of great-value, entry-level offerings from famous French regions known for their exclusive names and wildly expensive bottles. The LCBO is plumping up its French portfolio and this tasty little old-vines ("vieilles vignes") Pinot is a terrific introduction to the grape and the region. And it makes a perfect treat for Mother's Day!
Tasting Note: Appealingly smoky and pretty on the nose with aromas of sweet cherries, spiced plums and raspberries. Fresh and youthful in the mouth, it's typically lean but remarkably concentrated for a Pinot at this price. Fine, gentle tannins support the fruit and provide a lasting finish.
Enjoy With: Poultry, small game or flavourful fish dishes. Try it with duck with cherry sauce or teriyaki-seared tuna.
Style: Dry, medium-bodied red wine.
Terroir / Region: Stretching from Dijon in the north to Lyon in the south, Burgundy is a large area composed of several distinct sub-regions, including Chablis to the northwest and Beaujolais at the southern extreme. Its most famous wines (and the world’s most expensive) come from the southeast-facing Côte d’Or, or "hills of gold," which is where most of the fruit for Bichot’s Bourgogne Pinot Noir is sourced. Understanding Burgundy's grapes is easy: the whites are predominantly Chardonnay and the reds Pinot Noir. But the myriad appellations and vineyards, split between many owners of varying competence, makes buying the wines complicated and infuriating. Finding a reliable producer like Bichot is key.
Producer: The Bichot family's Burgundian roots go back to the 1300s. Wine producers since 1831, they now own properties throughout Burgundy. Sixth-generation director Albéric Bichot has won a number of winemaking awards since taking over in 1996. He believes that good wine comes from premium fruit grown in healthy soils, and he practises organic viticulture wherever possible and sources from a range of dependable growers who share his philosophy.
Availability: Available at your nearest LCBO. Look for it in the French section.
12.3% Alcohol/Vol. | 750 mL | #166959
Remember your reusable shopping bag & please enjoy responsibly.
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