Joe's Winos Wine Club MAY 2018

CHATEAU CALISSANNE

'CICADA'S SONG' ROSÉ 2017

One could associate many things with the region of Provence. This beautiful appellation where the Mediterranean sea meets the southern tip of France is home to incredible views, excellent seafood and the most iconic Rosé in the world. Less known might be the region's love of the noisy little insect they call 'Cigale' or Cicada. An unofficial emblem of Provence, the Cicada is considered good luck and traveling through Southern France, you'll find Cicada's both real and artistically crafted everywhere. Cicadas and Rosé are hardly a new trend in the Mediterranean. The Ancient Greeks made mention of the insects in their literature and were known to eat them. By the time the Romans arrived in 125 BC, Rosé in the Mediterranean had already developed a reputation for its superior quality. I'm not suggesting a food pairing here but Cicadas and Rosé have a shared history. This is the first release of Chateau Calissanne's Cicada's Song Rosé. This is a custom blend created in partnership with organic wine importer Philip Bourgeois. This new bottling truly exemplifies everything that makes Provence Rosé worthy of its reputation. This wine is intensely perfumed with bright orange peel, under-ripe strawberry, rose water, lime leaf, crushed raspberry, banana leaf, ginger and wet stone. The light but juicy palate offers bright watermelon, white grapefruit, peach, kumquat finishing with nice minerality and a hint of white pepper. Maybe Cicadas deserve a second look?

Pairings:

Grilled seafood, Bouillabaisse but any shellfish really, great for picnics, salads, grilled vegetables.

VIGNETI LE MONDE

CABERNET FRANC 2015

We at Joe's are no stranger to Cabernet Franc. There's so much versatility in the brighter, lighter bodied ancestral parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. It's a grape that is both very food friendly and can be served with a slight chill making it a good choice for summertime fare. The varietal is a considerable component in the blends of Bordeaux but garnered more fame in the Loire Valley where it shines as a single varietal. When we saw a Cabernet Franc from Italy, that piqued our interest. Sourced from an appellation in far north-east Italy and bordered by Austria and Slovenia, the Friuli-Grave is home to a small number of Cabernet Franc vines planted in 1980. The area lies within the larger Friuli region and is called 'Grave' referencing their gravelly soils much like the 'Graves' region of Bordeaux. Friuli-Grave predominantly produces white wine with Cabernet Franc produced far more scarcely. Le Monde's expression of Cabernet Franc is a very opulent, accessible version of its French counterpart. A nose offering currants, lilac, pencil shavings, peppercorns, and porcini mushrooms. Medium-bodied, the palate is spicy with black pepper, black plum, violets, dried meat, sweet tobacco, and a hint of anise seed. This is a lovely expression of this grape while still remaining approachable enough for casual drinkers.

PAIRINGS:

Wild game sausages, seared duck breast, lamb gyros, pâté, soft creamy cheese.