Jenny & Francois portfolio comes to Chicago

Webster's Wine Bar
Tasted Wednesday, April 13, 2011 by Wicker Parker with 748 views

Introduction

I've been wanting to taste a broader array of Jenny & Francois's portfolio for some time, and it didn't hurt that I loved the bottles of Sablonnettes rosé and Cousin grolleau I'd previously purchased. These are naturally made and very lively vins de soif, with no manipulations or additions other than minimal sulfites (if that) and the net impression from this lineup is of joyful, social wines that can ably accompany a very wide range of foods.

Flight 1 (12 Notes)

  • 2008 Domaine de la Senechalière La Bohème

    France, Loire Valley, Vin de France

    Plucked from schistous soils rather than the granite of neighboring Muscadet. Aged for 9 months on its lees in stainless. There's a very slight richness on the nose. Classic lemons and salt on the palate, with tangy length. A ringer for good Muscadet, very nice.

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  • 2009 Château Haut Lavigne Côtes-de-Duras Blanc

    France, Southwest France, Côtes-de-Duras

    A 50/50 blend of sémillon and sauv blanc. Clean, good minerality, melon, some savory herbs.

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  • 2008 Domaine de la Tournelle Poulsard Arbois L'uva Arbosiana

    France, Jura, Arbois

    Extremely pale, really intense nose of musky cherry and cinnamon (courtesy the full carbonic maceration). It's tangy on the palate, though not aggressively so, and tastes of black pepper and sausage meat. Outside the Anjou wines, this was my favorite red of the night – oodles of character here.

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  • 2008 Didier Montchovet Bourgogne-Grand-Ordinaire

    France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Grand-Ordinaire

    Biodynamically grown gamay from Bouze-les-Beaune, 4 km northwest of Beaune. Quite tart. Clean, very linear, with length but no complexity.

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  • 2009 Domaine les Sablonnettes Les Copines Aussi

    France, Loire Valley, Vin de France

    This has a gorgeous nose of currants and baking spices. Shows good intensity on the palate – this is a vivacious wine! It finishes with cherries and a bit of spice. Great life here.

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  • 2006 Olivier Cousin Anjou Pur Breton

    France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Anjou

    Beautiful, quite full with grippy tannins (extended maceration, yes sir), black pepper, great intensity, lovely stuff.

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  • 2008 Domaine Guillot-Broux Mâcon-Cruzille Rouge

    France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Mâcon-Cruzille

    Herbaceous nose. Nicely textured and pleasant upfront, with plenty of black pepper and other spices, but a bit lacking at midpalate.

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  • 2007 Domaine de L'R Chinon Le Canal des Grands Pieces

    France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon

    Plum, spice, tobacco on the nose. Medium-light, fresh, slightly tangy. Fine.

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  • 2007 Château Haut Lavigne Côtes-de-Duras Rouge

    France, Southwest France, Côtes-de-Duras

    I was quite happy to taste this 72% merlot, 28% cabernet franc vin de soif. Lightish in color, deep cherry on the nose, pure-tasting acidity and good tannic structure without any apparent oak (and I think this indeed sees no oak). Finishes with some complexity. Quite satisfying all around.

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  • 2007 Château Tire Pé

    France, Bordeaux

    95% merlot, tank aged. Big barnyard nose, smooth on the palate with milk chocolate and chalky minerals, overall quite a simple wine.

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  • 2007 Clos Siguier Cahors

    France, Southwest France, Cahors

    Very dry earth and clean red and black fruits on the nose. The structure is impressively firm upfront, but the wine loses steam on the back end. 95% malbec, 5% tannat.

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  • 2006 Domaine des 2 Ânes Corbières

    France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Corbières

    This shows great intensity on the palate without undue weight. Brambly, briary, fresh, solid dark core of fruit. I really like this. Carignan and grenache.

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