Featured Wine of the Month
September 2010
2008 Maison Joseph Drouhin Saint-Véran
The warm weather will undoubtedly be with us throughout the month of September… So permit me to recommend another white wine that is the perfect match for light, casual fare and laid-back summer quaffing: 2008 Maison Joseph Drouhin Saint-Véran.
This is a vintage that hails from the southern region of Burgundy, France, just north of Beaujolais. It is produced by Maison Joseph Drouhin, which was founded in 1880, and is considered one of the region’s most respected and reliable vignerons.
It is also produced from the Chardonnay grape; but since it is aged for 6 to 8 months in stainless steel, it is crisp and refreshing rather than cloyingly sweet, like so many over-oaked Californian and Australian Chardonnays. It is marvelously crisp and clean on the palate. You taste hints of vanilla at first and then the mouth-watering citrusy flavors kick in and linger on to a satisfyingly long finish.
This wine lists for $17.99, but the PA Liquor Control Board has it on sale for a mere $11.99 – an absolute steal. My advice is to stock up as quickly as possible.
Oh, by the way, Maison Joseph Drouhin also owns a sister winery in Oregon, Domain Drouhin, which produces outstanding Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. The Pinots are priced in the $40.00 - $50.00 dollar range, but are certainly worth it for that special occasion. The Chardonnays generally go for between $25.00 - $30.00.
While on a recent sojourn to Washington, DC, I sampled a marvelous 2007 Domaine Drouhin “Arthur” Dundee Hills Chardonnay, which was even better than the aforementioned Saint-Véran. I don’t believe it is available in Pennsylvania; but if you should happen to stumble upon it in either New Jersey or Delaware, it is certainly worth snapping up several bottles.
Cheers!
The Artful Diner
September 2010
The
Artful Diner is an independent, freelance food writer. His latest review and an archive of past reviews for restaurants around the country and the world can be found on this site on the
REVIEWS page.
