photo by Chateau de Saint Cosme
Happy New Year!!! As I write this, it’s five degrees in Minnesota. Yep, it’s freezing and I don’t want to leave my house. Most people would cozy up with a nice Cabernet Sauvignon or even a lovely Merlot (yes Merlot is awesome so get over it haters) but I’m enjoying a full body white. I know white wine is usually a summertime beverage but there are some great whites to be enjoyed right now. This week’s episode we revisit Southern Rhone but focus our attention on white blends and the Costières de Nîmes AOC.
This podcast episode we dive into:
- Review of Southern Rhone
- Costières de Nîmes AOC
- Major white grapes in Southern Rhone
- History in Southern Rhone
- Styles of white blends and flavor characteristics
Wine Recommendations:
Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2015 – priced around $19. This gold colored wine has medium acidicty and medium plus body. The smell is intoxicating with aromas of peach, toasted marshmallow and tropical fruit. With flavors of peach, tropical fruit, flowers, toasted marshmallow, with herbs and licorice on the finish this wine dancing off the tongue. We paired this wine with vegetable pizza with a white garlic sauce and it was delicious. This wine has weight but still has finesse and it’s well balanced between acidity and body.
Michel Gassier Costières de Nimes Nostre Païs White 2014 – priced around $17.
A lemon colored dry wine that has a nose of minerals, flowers, tropical fruit, sea salt. It has medium body and acidity. It’s rich and creamy without being over-the-top, with flavors of white grapefruit and minerals. We had it with spinach & ricotta cheese pizza and the creaminess in the wine went really well with the creaminess from cheese.
Sources:
Do you have a favorite winter white? Let us know your recommendations below.