Tag: wines

Berger on wine: There’s much to love about Rhône Valley wines

Rhône region winesDan Berger writes about the wines of the Rhône region of southern France, which have long flown under the radar.

Of all the French wine regions that are widely considered iconic, perhaps the least acclaimed is the southern French district known as the Rhône Valley.

The name Chateauneuf-du-Pape in the south (literally “new home of the pope”) comes from the roughly 70-year period when political and ecclesiastical conflicts caused the papacy to be based not in Rome but in Avignon, France. The reds can be utterly sublime.

Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Alsace and the Loire Valley all have supporters, with the first three attaining near mythic status and lots attention on the world wine stage. Most of the wines from this trio of regions today command high prices. Continue reading “Berger on wine: There’s much to love about Rhône Valley wines” →

5 wines to help you ring in spring

Here are three more examples of outstanding inexpensive Bordeaux from the 2015 and 2016 vintages. And since the weather is finally changing, it’s time to stock up on rosés for the summer.

Chateau Recougne Bordeaux ;Superieur 2015/ Bordeaux, France, $16

This wine is an overachiever. It hails from near the small city of Libourne, adjacent to the appellation of Fronsac, but it tastes as though its sights are set a little farther east in Saint-Emilion. It’s merlot at its best – big and warm, like the feeling of satisfaction you get from a trickle of sweat down your back after a long day and a job well done. Alcohol by volume: 14 percent.Cru Monplaisir Bordeaux Superieur 20152. [ . . . ]

Read more about these great values: 5 wines to help you ring in spring – SFGate