This past week Business France, the national agency to develop the French economy through export growth, brought in several French wineries to Vancouver.  These wineries do not yet have representation in British Columbia.  You currently cannot purchase these wines.  This article is meant for wine agents in BC that are interested in adding more French wines to their portfolio.  Below are the winery tables I visited and tasting notes for my favourite wines.  If any of the wineries are of interest to you, please contact them.

My Wine Tasting Notes

Champagne Esterlin

From the winery, “The House was founded in 1948 when three families gathered in Mancy, a village situated on the south hillsides of Epernay, to create a joint champagne project. Today the House relies on 200 members who strive to cultivate and harvest the best grapes on a 110 hectare vineyard spread over 52 villages. All these terroirs lie on clay and limestone soils, providing a base to craft great blends. Esterlin is recognized for its selective distribution and the quality of its wines with particular characteristics; a  Champagne house’s strength comes from its grapes. The House has its own vineyards of 11 hectares certified HVE and VDC (Sustainable Viticulture in Champagne).”

Champagne Esterlin Blanc de Blancs Eclat, AOC Champagne NV – 100% Chardonnay.  A medium lemon colour.  It has light apple and stone fruit aromas.  Dry, light mouthfeel.  Crisp apple flavour.  Medium-sized creamy airy bubbles.  Medium-plus length.

Champagne Esterlin, Ex Solera, AOC Champagne NV – A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Made with 40% of their reserve wine from their solera.  It has a medium-intensity lemon colour. Lighter aromas of bruised apples.  Dry, medium body, but light mouthfeel.  High acidity.  Light bubbles.  Bruised apple plus some tartness on the palate. –

Champagne Esterlin, Cleo Blanc de Blancs, AOC Champagne 2010 – 100% Chardonnay. Medium lemon colour.  Medium-intensity aromas of bruised apples and toast.  Dry, medium-plus body with high acidity.  Creamy bubbles.  Tart and bruised apple flavours.

Domaine des Pierrettes

From the winery, “Located in the Loire Valley between Amboise and Chaumont-sur-Loire, Domaine des Pierrettes is part of the Touraine Amboise appellation. When Gilles Tamagnan took over in 2018, he further cemented the estate’s place in the Touraine landscape. Domaine des Pierrettes always aims to produce high-quality wines;  remaining mindful of the need to respect traditions while modernising processes to offer the best range of wines with diverse expressions. Their dry, semi-dry and sweet Sauvignons showcase a wide range of flavors. Their rosé wines range from dry to sweet and are a chance to enjoy all the fruit and explosivity of the Gamay grape variety. Their reds, made from perfectly balanced Gamay or powerful Côt, harken back to the origins of Touraine wine. Last but not least, their Sine Sulfuris wines with no added sulphites are available in all colors.”

Domaine des Pierrettes Sens’S 2022, AOC Touraine – Made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape.  It has a light fresh stone fruit aroma. Light body, soft with a lightly round mouthfeel.  Light acidity and stone fruit flavour.  Longer length. 

Domaine des Pierrettes Redempton 2020, AOC Touraine Amboise – 100% Cot aka Malbec.  Almost opaque ruby coloured.  Light aromas of dark fruits.  Dry, medium-plus body with a thicker mouthfeel.  Dark fruit and black cherry flavours.  Medium acidity and tannins.

Domaine des Pierrettes Eros Rosé 2022 – 100% Gamay Noir.  It has a pale pink colour and light strawberry aromas.  Dry, medium-plus body, smooth with a thicker mouthfeel. Red fruit with a touch of lees on the palate.  Light tannins on the finish.

Domaine des Pierrettes Cabernet Franc – A deeper clear garnet colour.  Red cherries, capsicum, and black pepper aromas.  Floral, sweet spices, and candied cherry flavours.  Medium body and tannins. –

Vignoble Demois

From the winery, “Straightforward, sincere and frank: these are the characteristics of the wines produced by Fabien Demois. Since 2015, Fabien Demois has chosen biodynamics, this production system considers the earth as a whole at the service of the living. Fabien Demois respects the natural rhythm of the plant and uses organic farming on the 30ha estate. He specialises in small aromatic cuvées from old vines, which he ages in barrels for at least a year. He took over the family vineyard created more than 140 years ago, becoming the 5th generation of winemakers. The property is located in the alluvial plain between the Vienne and the Loire, in Cravant-les-Côteaux, the heart of the Chinon AOC where Cabernet Franc is king.”

Vignoble Demois L’âine Blanc 2020, AOC Chinon – From Chenin Blanc grapes.  It has a light stone fruit and citrus nose.  Light body, smooth with a linear feel.  Stone fruit transitioning to cut apple flavours on the palate.  Lower acidity.  Light apple skin tannins on the finish.  –

Vignoble Demois L’âine Rosé 2020, AOC Chinon – From Cabernet Franc. It has a light orange colour.  Light red fruit and toast aromas.  Dry, medium body with light tannins.  Crisp red apple flavour.  Medium length finishing with light tannins. –

Vignoble Demois Domaine de Doulaye Vieilles Vignes 2017, AOC Chinon – From Cabernet Franc. This wine has a medium-plus garnet colour.  Light aromas of Old World oak with red fruit behind.  Dry, medium body with a lean mouthfeel.  Red fruits with a touch of oak and apple on the mid-palate.  Light tannins on the finish. –

Vignoble Demois Cuvée de la Chevaliere 2015, AOC Chinon – From Cabernet Franc grapes, this wine has a medium-plus dull garnet colour.  Light apple and red berry aromas.  Dry, with a lighter mouthfeel.  Red cherries and berry flavours, plus some candied cherries.  Medium tannins and acidity.

Vignoble Demois Cuvée des Templiers 2014, AOC Chinon – Made from Cabernet Franc grape.  This wine has a deep garnet colour.  Medium-intensity nose with aromas of cedar and cherries.  Dry, medium body with medium tannins.  Cedar, berries, red cherries and a touch of candied cherries on the palate.  A very balanced, structured wine.  –

Domaine Sylvain Gaudron

From the winery, “The Gaudron family has been running vineyards since 1890. Their expertise is the result of family techniques transmitted by four generations of winemakers; the domaine is now run by Gilles Gaudron since 1993. All the vines are planted on slopes with chalky clay and siliceous clay soil. About the two-thirds of the vines are at least thirty years old. Some still wine vintages are stored in oak casks for several months to give them their characteristic flavor. Their still dry, semi-dry and sweet wines and traditional sparkling wines are prepared in their 13th century cellar. Their Vouvray wines are often among the best ranked at the most famous wine exhibitions and often rewarded by wine specialists.”

Domaine Sylvain Gaudron MT Brut, AOC Vouvray –  This sparkling wine is made with the Traditional Method using the Chenin Blanc grape.  It has 8g / litre dosage giving us a touch of sweetness and more roundness on the palate.  It has a medium lemon colour. Medium plus body, round with a creamier bubble.  Citrus and cut apple plus a touch of stone fruit on the palate.  Medium length.

Domaine Sylvain Gaudron MT Brut Nature AOC Vouvray  – This sparkling wine is made with the same method, but has no added dosage, plus has longer bottle aging than the Brut.  A medium lemon colour.  A light toasty lees nose.  Fuller body, a mix of small creamy and biting bubbles.  Tart crisp apple, toast, and a touch of citrus.  Medium length. –

Domaine Sylvain Gaudron Dry 2021, AOC Vouvray – This is a dry wine made from the Chenin Blanc grape.  It has a medium lemon colour.  A light flinty, lemon and stone fruit nose.  It is dry, smooth and soft with lower acidity.  Stone fruit and apple skin plus minerality on the palate.  Some tartness on the finish. –

Domaine Sylvain Gaudron Dry 2022, AOC Vouvray – Medium lemon colour.  A light sweet apple aroma.  Dry, fuller body, round and mouth-filling.  Ripe apple flavour.  Lower acidity. –

Cave de Ribeauvillé

From the winery, “Created in 1895, the Cave de Ribeauvillé is the oldest wine-cooperative in France. Today, it includes 41 winemakers who work on a prestigious vineyard of 235 hectares. Grapes are harvested exclusively by hand, in whole grapes, in accordance with its own quality charter. In 2019, Cave de Ribeauvillé was the first cooperative winery in France to be certified “High Environmental Value” level 3.”

Cave de Ribeauvillé AOC Crémant d’Alsace – A blend of 80% Pinot Blanc and 20% Pinot Auxerrois. This sparkling wine has a medium-intensity lemon-green colour.  A light fruity nose.  Fuller body, with bright acidity and creamy medium-sized bubble.  Apple on the palate. Medium-plus length.

Cave de Ribeauvillé Riesling Collection 2020, AOC Alsace – his wine has a bright lemon colour.  Light aromas of petrol and lemon with these aromas continuing to flavours on the palate.  This wine also has a strong apple flavour.  It is a fuller-bodied wine that has a smooth mouthfeel.  Medium length. –

Cave de Ribeauvillé Gewurztraminer Collection 2021, AOC Alsace – A medium lemon colour.  Nice aromas of floral, lychee and roses. Again these aromas continued to flavours, plus the addition of orange and very ripe stone fruits. Dry and soft mouthfeel with light pepperiness on the finish. –

La Conseillerie des Tonneliers

From the winery, “Claude Leblanc is a family business founded in 1978 in Beaune in Burgundy by Madame Claude Siegrist, née Claude Leblanc. The Claude Leblanc family distributes wines from Burgundy and all over France and works in partnership with many Burgundy winegrowers who vinify and mature Claude Leblanc wines. The family favors parcels from beautiful terroirs so that the finesse, elegance and typicity enthrall the taste buds. They use healthy ripe grapes, an essential criteria for achieving length. The wines are aged in oak barrels so that the fruit expresses itself in all its splendor. The majority of the wines are bottled at the property or at the estate to preserve the identity of each of the selected parcels.”

La Conseillerie des Tonneliers Saint-Veran Claude Leblanc 2022, AOC Saint-Veran – Chardonnay. A pale lemon colour and light stone fruit aromas.  Dry and soft with a light body and acidity.  Light stone fruit flavour with a touch of honey on the finish.  I quite enjoyed this wine. –

La Conseillerie des Tonneliers Pouilly-Fuissé Claude Leblanc 2020, AOC Pouilly-Fuisse – Chardonnay. Medium lemon colour with light stone fruit nose.  Dry, medium body, smooth and smooth mouthfeel.  Lower acidity.  Restrained stone fruit flavour.  Medium-plus length.

La Conseillerie des Tonneliers Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru Claude Leblanc 2020, AOC Pouilly-Fuisse – It has a deeper lemon colour.  Rich, ripe stone fruit aromas continue to the palate. Fuller body, dry and smooth mouthfeel.  Delicious.

La Conseillerie des Tonneliers Rully 1er Cru “Les Marissous” 2021 – Les Marissous is the name of the parcel where these Chardonnay grapes were harvested. This wine has a light lemon colour. Medium-intensity toast and apple aromas.  Nutmeg, toast and apple flavours.  Medium length. 

La Conseillerie des Tonneliers Bourgogne Pinot Noir Claude Leblanc 2022, AOC Bourgogne Pinot Noir – A lighter clear garnet colour.  Floral and red fruit aromas.  Dry, medium-minus body, semi-round mouthfeel.  Raspberries and floral flavour.  Yum. 

La Conseillerie des Tonneliers Hautes-Côtes-de-Nuits Claude Leblanc 2020, AOC Hautes-Côtes-de-Nuits – A light clear garnet colour.  Light aromas of sweet red fruit and cherries.  Off-dry, medium body, with medium tannins.  Red fruits and some VOC. –

La Conseillerie des Tonneliers Santenay Claude Leblanc 2020, AOC Santenay – A young Pinot that needs some ageing but should be quite wonderful after a few years.  It is a deeper, clear garnet colour.  Light cedary nose.  Medium body, soft and round with medium intensity tannins and acidity.  Cedar and red fruit flavours.

La Conseillerie des Tonneliers Nuits-Saint-Georges Claude Leblanc 2020, AOC Nuits-Saint-Georges – A deeper garnet colour. Deep aromas of dark fruit, toast, and dark chocolate.  Dry, medium plus body with a smooth mouthfeel.  Dark ripe fruit flavours and some toastiness. Medium length. 

Hesiode

From the winery, “Hesiode is a company based in France that has been exporting French wines, ciders and spirits for 30+ years. As a partner of many independent winemakers and cooperative wineries from all over the country. Hesiode offers a wide range of products with red, white, rosé and sparkling wines, as well as wines from different organic and eco-responsible labels from all wine regions of France. Thanks to its mastery of the production circuit, Hesiode also responds to the specific demands of own and exclusive brands, by developing a label unique to the product. Hesiode’s expertise is to meet specific needs in reference to wines, ciders and spirits from France. Communication is centralized: a single contact, a single invoice, regardless of the number of pick-up locations.  Hesiode’s strength is the reactivity and efficiency shown by the team.”

Hesiode AOP Gevrey-Chambertin Village “Pierre Bourré et Fils” 2018, AOP Gevrey-Chambertin Village –  A light transparent garnet colour.  Sweet, floral, and red fruit aromas.  Light body with a lean mouthfeel.  Medium acidity.  Red fruits, red apples and a touch of sweet spices.  Medium-minus length.

Domaine de Mayol

From the winery, “A historic producer, Domaine de Mayol is proud to continue the family tradition that binds them to the Luberon region- a land that provides their wines with exquisite flavor and quality. The delicate perfumes of the terroir drawn into the vines by their roots and matured in the southern sunshine, and their organic production methods both serve to add structure, depth and length to their wines. Their organic approach is a key value of the domaine; they endeavor to respect nature, their heritage, their customers and future generations. Domaine de Mayol wines are cultivated with passion to create unique emotions.”

Domaine de Mayol Cuvée Classique 2022, AOP Lubéron – A blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, and Clairette. It has a light lemon colour.  Light ripe sweet apricot and ground oats.  Medium-plus body, round with a thicker mouthfeel.  Dry with apple and stone fruit flavours plus a touch of sweet spices.  Medium length finishing with some pepperiness.

Caves Languedoc Roussillon

From the winery, “A family company since 1984, Caves Languedoc Roussillon is one of the first groups of independent winegrowers and cooperative cellars in the south of France. Today they are managed by the second generation, Nicolas and Chloé Chebill, who, surrounded by their international team, are committed to promoting the Languedoc wine-growing landscape to insure a quality service. They offer only high-quality wines from sustainably cultivated vines, whose production meets their specific requirements.”

Caves Languedoc Roussillon Cave de Montagnac Mare Nostrum 2022, AOP Picpoul de Pinet – This wine has a medium-plus intensity lemon colour.  A nice ripe stone fruit nose.  Off-dry, medium boy with stone fruit flavours, plus minerality and apples on the mid-palate.  Medium body and length. –

Caves Languedoc Roussillon Les Vignerons du Narbonnais “Jeanette” Chardonnay Boisé 2022, IGP Pays d’Oc – Chardonnay Boisé means oaked Chardonnay in French.  This wine has a medium-intensity lemon colour.  Ripe tropical fruit and toast aromas on the palate.  Fuller body, round with a thicker mouthfeel.  A touch of sweet spices. –

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