Morgon is a French appellation located in Beaujolais that produces juicy red wines from Gamay grapes. These age-worthy wines are usually full-bodied and robust with well-structured and firm tannins. They have a very distinct character and typically display notes of red fruit, ripe stone fruit, and fruit brandy, which may be complemented by mineral notes.
With age, they become more refined and intense, and the best examples are stored from five up to ten years. These wines can match hearty and powerful dishes, and they pair exceptionally well with lamb, beef, and game. They can also work with flavorful cheese varieties.
Located in the Loire Valley, Saumur-Champigny is a French appellation and the sub-region of Samur. The name is used only for the finest Saumur wines that are mainly based on Cabernet Franc, while other permitted varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon and Pineau d'Aunis.
The wines produced in the region are straightforward reds characterized by their intense ruby color and notes of red and dark berries that are complemented by nuances of violets, iris, undergrowth, and spices. These full-bodied wines have supple and well-structured tannins.
Tannat is a French red-skinned grape primarily associated with south-western France and the Madiran appellation, though it is suggested that it could have Basque origin. This grape typically produces big, bold, and richly-colored tannic red wines with good acidity and excellent aging potential.
Because of those rich tannins—which is why it probably got its name—Tannat is often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Fer to soften its natural astringency. The wines are usually harsh in their youth, but modern techniques are often oriented towards supple expressions that can be enjoyed young, though all benefit from age.
VARIATIONS OF Tannat
Beaujolais Nouveau is a light red wine that is produced in Beaujolais region from the Gamay grapes. Because of an excellent global promotion in the second half of the 20th century, this young wine soared in popularity in France and worldwide.
It is released each year on the third Thursday in November, a day which is often celebrated as Beaujolais Day. Since it is released after only six to eight weeks in the cellar, the wine is low in tannins and high in acidity, with fruity and vibrant aromas of grapes, red berries, figs, and bananas.
Haut-Médoc is a French appellation located in the renowned Médoc wine region. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc are the signature grapes in the region, but some percentages of Malbec, Carménère and Petit Verdot are also used.
The whole appellation includes twenty-nine communes, out which six (Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac, Saint-Estèphe, Moulis and Listrac) have their separate appellations, and are considered to produce some of the best wines in the world. The wines produced under the general Haut-Médoc label are elegant, complex and not overpowering.
Margaux is a French appellation located in Médoc region of Bordeaux. The wines produced in the region are mainly based on Cabernet Sauvignon with the addition of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, or Petit Verdot. Margaux wines are often dubbed as the most elegant and perfumed in the entire Bordeaux, while their aromatic profile tends to display a combination of floral and red fruit aromas that are complemented by nuances of spices, tobacco, and truffles.
Although full-bodied, these wines tend to be lighter, smoother, and mellower than other Bordeaux appellations. They naturally pair with lamb, but they can also match other roasted or braised meat dishes, as well as roasted game. The most famous estates from the area are Château Margaux and Château Palmer.
Pauillac is a French appellation located in the Médoc wine region of Bordeaux. The area is renowned for great-quality red wines that are primarily based on Cabernet Sauvignon with the addition of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, or Petit Verdot.
The wines are deep ruby red, robust, and dense with bright notes of red and black fruit that develop into aromas of cassis, oak, vanilla, licorice, and leather. Pauillac wines are full-bodied, with firm but elegant tannins that age exceptionally well.
Côtes du Roussillon Villages is a French appellation located in the Roussillon wine region that includes the villages Caramany, Latour de France, Lesquerde, and Tautave, all surrounding the village of Maury. The appellation exclusively produces red blends that are based on Grenache, Carignan Noir, Lladoner Pelut, Syrah and Mourvèdre.
Due to different soils and blends, the wines can slightly differ in character, but they are generally powerful and tannic with fruity notes that are complemented by herbal, spicy, mineral, and earthy nuances. The wines perfectly pair with game, white or red meat, and cheese.
This powerful red wine hails from the southern Rhône, and it is mostly based on Grenache with small proportions of Syrah and Mourvedre. Often compared to the more famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape, these robust wines are characterized by their deep ruby color and complex aromas of ripe red and black fruit that are complemented by spicy and earthy nuances of licorice, cocoa, or chocolate. Gigondas is a full-bodied wine with powerful tannins that tend to mellow with age, resulting in more refined expressions.
They are an excellent match to braised dishes, stews, or casseroles.
Beaujolais is a light-bodied red wine, with relatively high amounts of acidity. It is made in the historical wine producing region Province of Beaujolais, mostly from thin-skinned Gamay grape, which makes it very low in tannins, and therefore it is often treated like a white wine and served slightly chilled.
Although it rarely needs decanting, after being open for a while, it will gain some aromatic complexity, with a fresh cherry and blackberry fruit nose and spicy, earthy notes in the background. It is classified in three categories: Beaujolais AOC, Beaujolais Villages AOC, and Cru Beaujolais.
VARIATIONS OF Beaujolais
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