-1.5in.jpg)
During January 2020, we attended the APVSA – Association pour la Promotion des Vins et Spiritueux en Amérique du Nord (the Association for the Promotion of Wine and Spirits in North America) wine tasting event in Washington DC. As usual, I gravitated to the champagne houses. Champagne Patrick Boivin is a champagne house in the Epernay region. They are celebrating their 40th anniversary. The champagne house is run by Marie-Madeleine, Patrick, accompanied by their two daughters, Baptistine and Céline. We met Baptistine at the tasting. Baptistine is in charge of brand development in France and other countries.
Champagne Patrick Boivin’s vineyard is 6 hectares (14.8 acres) is mainly based in the Vallée de la Marne. Most of the vineyard is planted with Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir. The champagne house produces about 50,000 bottles of champagne and is looking for distributors in the United States.
Baptistine had a nice assortment of the champagne portfolio at the Washington DC event. I was able to taste several of the house’s champagnes.
Champagnes
The Cuvée Brut was a blend of 80% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay. It aged for four years. Multiple columns of tiny bubbles formed a circumferential mousse on the wine’s surface of the glass. The light yellow colored champagne offered apple and red berry notes, a creamy mouthfeel and a trace of freshly baked bread. The had 8 g/L dosage.
The Cuvée Reserve was crafted with 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Meunier. The wine aged for seven years and had 8 g/L dosage. Multiple columns of tiny bubbles formed a circumferential and a central mousse on the wine’s surface. The champagne was reminiscent of freshly baked bread, apples and red berries. The champagne had a lively mouthfeel.
The Cuvée Brut Rosé had a festive salmon color. This 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier champagne aged for four years and had 9 g/L dosage. Multiple columns of tiny bubbles formed a circumferential and a central mousse on the wine’s surface. The wine offered apple and red berry fruits. The mouthfeel was crisp and lively.
The Cuvée Tradition Millésime 1999 was made entirely out of Chardonnay. The champagne spent 20 years aging. It had 8 g/L dosage. The wine had a yellow color and multiple columns of tiny bubbles formed a circumferential and a central mousse on the wine’s surface. The aroma and taste reminded me of freshly baked bread, apple and citrus. The mouthfeel was creamy.
The Cuvée Tradition Millésime 2002 was also made of 100% Chardonnay. The champagne aged for 18 years and had a dosage of 2.5 g/L. The yellowed colored wine had multiple columns of tiny bubbles formed a circumferential and a central mousse on the wine’s surface. The wine had apple, citrus and freshly baked bread notes. The lively mouthfeel also was creamy.
These champagnes were delicious and we hope they find a distributor on the east coast of the United States.
Cheers,
Terry
Les Roques de Cana
Earlier this month, we visited with Thibault VIAL, sales manager for Les Roques de Cana, and tasted a couple of the available wines produced by Les Roques de Cana. Les Roques de Cana is located in the southwest region of France.
The winery was started by Martial Guiette and partners. The primary focus of the winery is growing and producing Malbec wines. The location of the winery is on a plateau of Saint-Vincent-Rive-d’Olt. This village was named for St. Vincent, the patron saint of winemakers.
The first wine we tasted was produced with 100% Malbec. This was the La Fiancée Rosé Malbec. The pink colored wine almost reminds one of fruit juice. The wine offered red fruit notes with some sweetness. When producing La Fiancée, the wine is “treated as a red wine.” The Les Roques de Cana Cahors-Malbec 2015 Appellation Cahors Contrôlée Red was also produced with 100% Malbec. The wine was a translucent red color. The wine was full-bodied with tannins.
Les Roques de Cana also produces other wines including: Le Vin Des Noces, Sanguis Christi and Graal Sanctus.
Later Thibault VIAL responded to a series of email questions:
Wine Trail Traveler: Who currently owns Les Roques de Cana? When were the vineyards planted and when was the winery built? How many bottles or cases is the winery producing?
Thibault VIAL: Winery was created by Martial Guiette, family winery, building was build in 2006, vineyard between 35 and 70 years! 39 hectares for something like 100/150000 bottles/vintage.
Wine Trail Traveler: How many hectares/acres of grapes are you growing? Which varieties are planted?
Thibault VIAL: 39 hectares, 98% of Malbec, 2% of Merlot (but we never blend Malbec and Merlot, only Malbec wine).
Wine Trail Traveler: To what do you contribute the success of the winery ?
Thibault VIAL: First, quality of the grape, always thinking quality, maturity of the grape at the harvests without nice grapes, imposition of produce balance, tasty wine. About 80% of the wine of produced in the vineyard.
Wine Trail Traveler: What types of foods do you suggest pairing with some of the wines from Les Roques de Cana?
Thibault VIAL: I think fowl, wild boar, deer and hare would be perfect.
Wine Trail Traveler: What can visitors to the winery expect when visiting?
Thibault VIAL: Everything! We are open to every people who would like to visit, learn about our wine. Only thing, give a call to be sure of the availability.
Wine Trail Traveler: How will the Les Roques de Cana change and grow in the next five years?
Thibault VIAL: Would love to have organic certification.
Wine Trail Traveler: What would you like the public to know about the winery?
Thibault VIAL: The quality of the wine, we created at Les Roques de Cana, takes the best the our terroir.
****
We hope you have the opportunity try the wines from Les Roques de Cana which is known for its Malbec wines.
Cheers!
Kathy