wUst Fine Wine Imports
wines U should try!
Vignerons du Quercy
The Coteaux du Quercy is an interesting area about 20 miles south of Cahors where its limestone plateau is a great place for growing Cabernet Franc. Other Bordeaux varietals and indigenous grapes of the area such as Tannat can also be used in each year's blends but overall this area provides a very interesting expression of Cabernet Franc. The other varietals are also very expressive each year and so there is always an interesting selection of different cuvee blends in each vintage.
The area also a very long viticultural history as an interesting part of its recorded history is that the Emperor Domltian in AD 96 issued an order that all the grape vines in Quercy were to be removed. I don't know if he didn't like some wine that he consumed from the area or he was an early proponent of prohibition but I guess that messing with grape growers is ill-advised as he met his demise soon thereafter in an assassination plot.
Although the overall area is small at around only 300 acres of vineyards under cultivation it has excellent growing conditions. The limestone plateau where most of the vineyards are located provides a strong backbone of minerality to the wines and the very sunny summer weather in the area promotes very richly flavored and ripe grapes which then produce very fully flavored wines.
The wine producers in the area are also mainly small family owned farms which I think adds to how interesting the wines can be from the area. The local growers have established a joint marketing organization, however, which uses the name "Vignerons du Quercy" and which also handles tastings for all the growers at their local office. I tasted ten wines during the day of my first visit and they were are well-made and interesting.
Since I also focus on food pairings, however, I was a bit puzzled by one of the wines as although it was interesting and had a quite robust flavor profile, I had a hard time thinking up many food pairings. And so, I then asked my host: "Francis, qu'est-ce que vous mangiez avec ce vin ?" And Francis, who is also a great guy by the way, suddenly looked like I had made his day and with a big smile responded with "Chevreau !"
While I usually enjoy French food a lot, I also typically stay away from some of the weird stuff that can be on French menus but I also didn't recall even having seen Chevreau before. Then I suddenly thought...Chevre?...is he talking about Goat? Indeed he was, as Roast Goat is a local specialty! While that wine was interesting, however, I don't think there is big market for a wine that goes well with Goat in the U.S. and so that was not one of the wines originally selected!
The rolling hills on the limestone plateau of Quercy
The villages of the plateau are part of the vineyards
Some winter pruning in February
The Wines
“630” Blanc 2019
The “630” name is from the first year of a recorded harvest from the vineyards of Quercy. The wine is an interesting blend of 43% Sauvignon Blanc, 41% Chardonnay, and 16% Muscadelle. Aromas include white flowers, honeysuckle, citrus blossoms, white grapefruit, kiwi, tangerine, and kumquat. Flavors include white grapefruit, white peaches, and Meyer lemon. There is a medium body, good balance and acidity, and a refreshing “saturated” and minerally finish.
Food pairings would include sole, shrimp, crab, halibut, branzino, swordfish, clams, mussels, calamari, seafood pasta and salads, veal and pork cutlets, pork tenderloin, chicken, paella, Asian pork, chicken, seafood, vegetable, and noodle dishes, Mexican chicken and pork dishes, creamy Mexican food, and green salads.
“630” Rouge 2020
The “630” name is from the first year of a recorded harvest from the vineyards of Quercy. The wine is a blend of 57% Cabernet Franc, 16% Malbec, 16% Merlot, 7% Gamay, and 4% Tannat. Aromas include blackberries, dark cherries, dark plums, and chocolate. Flavors include blackberries, blueberries, and red plums. There is a medium body, good balance and acidity, and a long medium finish.
Food pairings would include Filet Mignon, New York Steak, beef stew, short ribs, rack of lamb, veal chops, pork chops, grilled chicken, coq au vin, cassoulet, grilled sausages, salmon, swordfish, mussels, Asian and Mexican beef, pork, and chicken dishes, lamb curries, Tandoori dishes, tamales, chile verde, charcuterie, and mild to medium cheeses.
Nouveaux Chemins Rouge 2021 (OC, NF)
This is a blend of 47% Cabernet Franc, 22% Malbec, 20% Merlot, and 11% Tannat. Aromas include blackberries, boysenberries, and dark cherries. Flavors include sour cherry, pomegranate, raspberries, and strawberries. There is a medium body but with a silky feeling across the palate, good balance and acidity, and a long medium finish.
Food pairings would include Filet Mignon, short ribs, beef stew, veal chops, pork chops and tenderloin, chicken, coq au vin, cassoulet, shrimp, clams, mussels, paella, Asian and Mexican pork and chicken dishes, tacos, tapas, charcuterie, and mild to medium cheeses.
La Bête à Lunettes 2022 (OC, NF, NAS)
This is a blend of 64% Cabernet Franc, 22% Tannat, and 14% Malbec and there are no sulfites used in producing this wine. Aromas include dark cherries, dark plums, boysenberries, blueberries, and a hint of forest floor. Flavors include red plums, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries. There is a medium to full body but also with a sense of lightness across the palate, good balance and acidity, and a really intriguing long finish.
Food pairings would include Filet Mignon, New York Steak, short ribs, beef stew, veal chops, pork chops, lamb chops, wild boar, elk, grilled chicken, swordfish, Asian and Mexican beef, pork, and chicken dishes, lamb curries, beef enchiladas, tamales, chile verde, charcuterie, and mild, medium, and creamy cheeses. This wine is actually a bit amusing and playful as the wines with no added sulfites have a different degree of exuberance and expressiveness than most wines and is possibly even more versatile with food than the suggestions above.
Le Bon Temps 2020 (NF)
This is a blend of 57% Cabernet Franc, 16% Malbec, 16% Merlot, and 11% Tannat from selected parcels of older vines on the limestone plateau of Coteaux du Quercy. Aromas include blackberries, dark cherries, dark plums, and dark chocolate. Flavors include dark cherries, dark plums, boysenberries, blackberries, and strawberries. There is a medium to full body, good balance and acidity, and a long medium elegant finish.
Food pairings would include Filet Mignon, New York Steak, beef stew, short ribs, veal chops, rack of lamb, pork chops and tenderloin, chicken, coq au vin, cassoulet, grilled sausages, shrimp, salmon, clams, mussels, Asian beef, pork, and chicken dishes, lamb curries, Mexican beef and pork dishes, tamales, tacos, charcuterie, and mild, medium, and creamy cheeses.
