Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

Here we are again and welcome to the Ultra-Special Newsletter of the Week of Wine and Tasting Announcement for Carpe Vinum! It’s the second week of our Tour de France while we follow the real Tour de France. . .in spirit, anyway. . .y’know. . .since we couldn’t be there. But if there was a leg of the race I would want to be there for, this would be the one. Of course I wouldn’t want to be biking the whole trip. I’m just not in that kind of shape, considering they’ve been climbing the Pyrenees on the border between Spain and France. I’m sure it’s pretty, yeah, but that sounds like work to me. And speaking of work, it’s time to get to mine and explain to you, the faithful audience, just what the heck we’re doing this week.

So the race started off this week in the Bordeaux, possibly the world’s most famous wine region. So logically that’s a great place to start the tasting, as well. I’ve brought in a good white Bordeaux:a Sauvignon Blanc-based wine, crisp and wonderful on a hot day. Also thrown in for good measure is one of the legendary Bordeaux reds. Generally Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blends that are perfect for aging, or enjoying with a steak. . .or sometimes just on their own.

Tearing straight out of Bordeaux, the route took those crazy athletes through Southwest France. Now, for a wine region the Southwest is a bit confusing. It doesn’t really have specific borders like all the other regions in France. It’s more of a generalization for all the smaller individual districts situated between Bordeaux and Languedoc. But the apparent lack of organization does not detract from the quality of the wines from the region, but it does seem to make them a bit harder to track down. There are quite a lot of gems from Cahors, Jurancon, Madiran, Frontonnais, Marmandais and on and on. It’s this reason why the region is so fascinating and has become one of my favorites to explore.

Out of the Southwest the race runs through and concludes, for the week, in the Northern part of the Languedoc. The area is best known for the quantity of wine that comes out of the region and is sometimes referred to as the “wine lake,” as the production is quite high there. That doesn’t mean there’s any lack in quality. It makes it harder to pick out the really good ones, but I suppose that’s what I’m here for, hey? This is going to be another good one. A couple of delicious and crisp whites followed by some powerful reds.

Oh, and I almost forgot! To finish things off, I thought I might pour a Banyuls, since I’d never done that before. Banyuls is a region in the Languedoc that produces a red dessert wine, fortified like a port. I’ve tried it and it’s decadent!

So Friday, July 14th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

Tour de France: Bordeaux, Southwest and Languedoc!!!
Marquis de Chasse 2005 Bordeaux Blanc, Bordeaux
Domaine Castera 2004 Sec, Jurancon
Chateau de Cedre 2003 Heritage, Cahors
Chateau Lafitte Teston 2003 Vielle Vignes, Madiran
Gres Saint Paul 2003 Grange Phillippe, Coteaux du Languedoc

Tour de France: More From Bordeaux and Languedoc!!!
Chateau Dutruch Grand Poujeaux 2001 Moulis en Medoc, Bordeaux
Mas de Martin 2004 Ultreia, Gres de Montpellier, Languedoc

Tour de France: Banyuls!!!
Domaine de la Rectorie 2004 Mute sur Grain, Banyuls

A stellar deal at $10 for the First 5, $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours, and $5 for the Banyuls.
Hope to see you here!

Seize the Wine!

Next Friday tasting is Tour de France Week 3: Rhone, Jura, and Burgundy!!

M