This week on First Pour Wine: Episode 6

• 2010 Phebus Torrontes and 2009 Domaine Pignard Beaujolais

2009 Domaine Pignard Beaujolais

Made from 100% gamay, this wine follows the pattern of being a cheap and easily quaffed summer beverage.  While it’s not a particularly complicated example, it is delicious.

Sight: Bright, pretty pinkish purple. Magenta

Smell: Big black cherries, some fresh, some cooked into cherry turnovers, pies, and jams.  Strawberry and currants play background. Very straightforward bouquet.

Sip: Almost no tannins, starts off brightly acidic with, surprise, more black cherries, this time as jello. Becomes slightly sweeter complementing with a hint of strawberry and black cherry cobbler. Light body, alcohol hides relatively easily behind the fruit flavors. Almost macerated cherries. [ABV 12.5%]

Savor: Long, slow, slightly tanninish finish with plenty of powdered black cherry sugar.

This wine is all about difficult labeling and straight forward black cherry quaffing wine.  Try it as a refreshment on a summer picnic with a sandwich.

Price: $9.99

Appellation Beaujolais Contrôlée
France

2010 Phebus Torrontés

Not as well known for their Torrontés as they are for their Chardonnay, Malbec, and Tempranillo, Phebus takes a crack at the Argentina’s big white grape and makes something strikingly similar to an ok Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand.

Sight: Pale yellow

Smell: Kiwi, honeydew melon, peaches, and lime are mixed into fresh lemonade, touches of fresh cut grass and sea salt round out the profile. Very clean and crisp.

Sip: Extremely light body, but feels well rounded. Starts off soft, acid grows. Plenty of lemon and lime notes with tropical fruit such as papaya and kumquats. [ABV 13.5%]

Savor: Very clean finish, touch of minerality and lemon pith. Moderate length, fades relatively quickly.

A very simple torrontés, but a little too reminiscient of Sauvignon Blanc. Expected more tropical fruit, but this is an alright stepping stone into the world of torrontés. More interesting examples exist though.

Price: $9.99

Mendoza, Argentina