61: French Music & Wine Playlist LGf+w Podcast

by Paige Donner

I hope you are all enjoying the final days of 2020 and have many good reasons lined up for looking forward to 2021!

With that sentiment, here’s a drinks playlist. Since Dry January has officially been cancelled this year, this list of wines and champagne can whisk you cheerily into the first days of 2021…

Music and wine are, of course, two of life’s most essential ingredients.

And French music and French wines are two of the things I cherish most about the French culture.

https://soundcloud.com/paigedonner/61-wine-music-the-essentials-of-a-good-life-local-goodfoodwine

Bearing that in mind, I kick off our French Music & Wine playlist with a song and a bottle of champagne. Because if there’s any essential lesson in life, it’s that everything should start with a bottle of champagne.

Or, as Lily Bollinger once said, “I drink Champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it — unless I’m thirsty.” ― Lily Bollinger House of Bollinger Champagne

The only editorial input I’d submit to that golden nugget of wisdom is the interchangeability of the word champagne with fine wine.

So on today’s podcast, the last of 2020, I present you a selection of French songs paired with mostly French wines.

Ce N’est Pas La Fin du Monde – Ludo Pin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGcs2TIS7Qo

Larmandier-Bernier Champagne from Vertus, France –

In the Financial Times, November 26th, famous journalist Jancis Robinson recommends Longitude for,«celebration or consolation»!

She took part in a blind comparison of 12 English sparkling wines and 12 champagnes organized by The noble Rot team : “the overall winner Terre de Vertus 2013 was well accolated”

Fiona Beckett in The Guardian highlights wine / cuisine pairings and proposes 4 wines that sparkle with food including Longitude that goes with every dish

http://www.larmandier.fr (8 generations, Côte des Blancs, Champagne)

Residents de la République – Bashung

https://youtu.be/90X62itERcY?t=50

Barolo DOCG, Fossati Riserva, 10 Anni 2009 by Roberto Voerzio: Outstanding!

https://cherieduvin.wordpress.com/2019/06/03/roberto-voerzio-barolos-screaming-eagle-almost/

Barolos and this fabulous Italian wine region that for many is simply summed up as Piedmont’s Nebbiolo.

Another fun thing about these wines is the label. There is an artist, just one artist, a friend of Roberto’s, who has painted about 14 different paintings that transmit different stages of the winemaking process, the unglamorous parts. These paintings have been turned into labels and they rotate them through their vintage years.

Etienne Daho – Soudain

Maison Louis Picamelot Crémant de Bourgogne Cuvée Jeanne Thomas

https://www.larvf.com/vin-champagne-ou-cremant-difference-choix-bulles-gout,4575275.asp

C’est la maison spécialiste du crémant en Bourgogne. Elle offre des vins bien typés de la région et marqués par la patte du vinificateur, à l’image de cette cuvée “Jeanne Thomas”. Un assemblage de chardonnay (77%) et d’aligoté charnu et rond, tout en ayant une tenue en bouche apportée par l’élevage en barriques d’un tiers des vins. Un crémant d’hiver.

Françoise Hardy – Tous les Garçons et Les Filles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNEEVsZt8vI

Montrachet Grand Cru 2015 Maison Albert Bichot

A legendary wine, a symbol and a part of Burgundy’s heritage, but also a worldwide reference for the most famous Chardonnays. A true gem, this appellation stretches across both the villages of Chassagne and Puligny (and to which the name “Mont Chauve” has been given).

TASTING

Rich, very refreshing, long and progressive, the nose develops balsamic notes with a mixture of white-fleshed fruit, almond, and spice with a hint of vanilla and coconut. Very round and full-bodied, this wine boasts harmonious balance between its mineral structure and its remarkable length.

Classic Burgundy – white

http://www.albert-bichot.com/

Francis Cabrel

Samedi Soir Sur La Terre

C’Etait L’Hiver

https://youtu.be/0P5JnXTSM94?t=2006

Cote-Rotie Domaine Stéphane Ogier

A propos de la cuvée

Cette côte-rôtie est un monocépage de syrah cultivée sur des sols de granit et de schiste situés en Côte Brune et Blonde. Les 15 parcelles concernées s’étendent sur cinq hectares avec une densité de plantation de 10 000 pieds/hectare et un rendement de 35 hectolitres par hectare. Les vendanges sont manuelles et la viticulture dans une démarche raisonnée. Les baies sont semi-égrappées, macèrent à froid en cuves inox thermo régulées, et ce, avec les levures indigènes. Le vin est élevé 18 mois en barrique, dont 20% de bois neuf lors de la première année. Très sombre, ce vin est riche en arômes de fruits noirs, d’épices et de nuances florales. Il se caractérise par un beau volume, des tanins fins et soyeux. Un vin de garde avec une belle capacité de vieillissement d’environ 20-25 ans. C’est une côte-rôtie très élégante, à servir à 16°C, qu’il convient de déguster avec des cailles farcies au foie gras et aux champignons, un canard aux pêches de vigne ou un gigot d’agneau à la provençale.

http://www.stephaneogier.fr/

Florent Pagny

Savoir Aimer (savoir donner)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Sx2BWc44WA

Pichon, Comtesse de Lalande – Grand Cru Classé 1855

Domaine :Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
Vin :Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
Région :Bordeaux Médoc
Appellation :Pauillac
Cépages :Cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Merlot, Petit verdot

Le château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande jouit d’un terroir exceptionnel de 90 hectares, idéalement situé à Pauillac sur les rives bienfaisantes de la Gironde. Riche d’une longue histoire, seules quatre familles présidèrent aux destinées de cette propriété emblématique du vignoble médocain, et, depuis 2007, c’est la Maison familiale de Champagne Louis Roederer qui insuffle un esprit novateur et ambitieux à cette magnifique propriété. Depuis la restructuration de son vignoble, sa conversion progressive vers la biodynamie et la construction d’installations techniques modernes, tout est fait pour permettre au terroir de Pichon comtesse de s’exprimer : un grand vin de Pauillac, fait d’équilibre, de race et d’élégance.

Calogero

Je Joue de la Musique

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPK9fxvvbfk

Minervois Le Bois des Merveilles 2017 du Domaine Jean-Baptiste Sénat

“Coup de coeur pour ce vin rouge du Languedoc aux notes de cuir et de bois de santal.” La RVF

If you’ve not tasted Minervois these are deep, rich, red wines from the terroir around Nimes, one of the most ancient wine growing regions of France, dating back to Roman times. These are wines of the Earth, straight-talking and sure to please.

Julien Doré

Porto Vecchio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9mTyeKUtsk

Though now one of France’s 13 regions and the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, Corsica is still marked by its Italian history, having been ruled by the Republic of Genoa from 1284 to the mid 18th century. The influence lingers in the wine: a key grape is Nielluccio, believed to be related to Tuscany’s Sangiovese, with another main red being the island’s unique Sciaccarello (“the grape that bursts in the teeth,” or the “Corsican pinot noir”). In terms of white, Vermentino (or Malvoisie), most comparable to full-bodied Chardonnay, reigns.

Domaine Abbatucci: Jean-Charles Abbatucci’s wines are both spectacular and increasingly rare. His most popular wines are labeled Faustine. Monte Bianco, almost mentholated in its herbal intensity but still nuanced, is the island’s best evidence that sciaccarello can produce a great red wine. Biodynamic cultivation is practiced on the vineyards.

http://domaine-abbatucci.com/?page_id=20

Nolwenn Leroy & Patrick Bruel

Que Reste t’Il de Nos Amours

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T73LVe9an2g

AOC Vacqueyras

Domaine de Montvac, a 23-hectare estate, farmed organically

The Vacqueyras White ‘Mélodine’ 2007 is made from a blend of Clairette, Roussanne, Bourboulenc and Viognier, fermented and aged in 450-liter barrels, 20 percent of which are new. It’s full-bodied, with peach pit and blanched almond notes and a firm but racy finish that begs for food. The Vacqueyras 2007 (a 70/25/5 mix of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre) is fermented in stainless steel and then moved to cement vat for one year. – James Molesworth, Wine Spec

https://www.aocvacqueyras.com/

https://www.aocvacqueyras.com/les-hommes/domaine-de-montvac/

Serge Gainsbourg

Couleur Café

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3OozfVG4tY

Sancerre from the Loire Valley, is found frequently on French café/ bistro wine menus. It runs the gamut from above average, to fine French wine. It is one of the rare wines that can be both red or white. Not to be confused with other ‘commonly’ found white wines made wholly or in part with sauvignon blanc grapes:

Sancerre is known for dry white wines. This area is famous for its delicious fresh wines of Sauvignon Blanc.

Sauternes (Bordeaux) produced delicious exclusive sweet white wines. Those who love sweet white should try out Sauternes.

Sauvignon Blanc is not only doing well only in the Loire region of France. New Zealand is known to make great white wines like Chardonnay and its number one variety Sauvignon Blanc.

Jean Jacques Goldman

Là Bas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFwaRmpzvjo

By the way, a question for you listeners, if a wine is made in California by a French company, is it a French wine or a Californian wine?

1881 Napa

Napa Valley’s most comprehensive exhibition of the valley’s early history, in the perhaps oldest Victorian home remaining in the Napa Valley. The history museum at 1881 Napa combines a gallery of the stories of Napa’s early pioneers, a remarkable collection of winemaking relics, and an exhibition of ephemera from the Early California Wine Trade Archive.

Chateau Buena Vista Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

In the 1860’s Buena Vista covered more than 6,000 acres that ran up into the foothills and into Napa County. In 1861, our founder, Count Haraszthy, journeyed to Europe to procure the finest grapevines. While in Bordeaux, he declared “Cabernet Sauvignon is its unsurpassed grape; the wine made of it possesses splendid color and an exquisite bouquet.’ Bringing choice cuttings back to California, he propagated them at Buena Vista and bringing Cabernet Sauvignon to the Napa Valley. We celebrate Buena Vista’s historic contribution to Napa wine by offering this rich, dense and opulent Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

https://www.boissetcollection.com/brands/buena-vista-winery

https://www.boissetcollection.com/

Alain Souchon

Jaloux du Soleil

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJQ472JA184

Naturae by Gérard Bertrand

Issu d’une agriculture raisonnée certifiée biologique et d’une démarche de vinification naturelle, Naturae offre des vins généreux et intensément fruités aux saveurs originelles. Naturae est aussi une gamme vegan pour les consommateurs soucieux du respect des animaux. Vins sans soufre ajouté et sans additif, Naturae permet de découvrir la vraie nature des cépages et AOP premium du sud de la France.

Charles Aznavour & Zaz – J’Aime Paris Le Moi de Mai

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhJm5t-8cug

First Bottle for the Fromage, charcuterie, baguettes

Chateau de Tiregand Pécharmant Clos Montalbanie, 2019

https://www.vins-bergeracduras.fr/vins/chateau-de-tiregand/

vin blanc sec produit sur un sol de graves, il présente une grande pureté de fruit, avec des notes de poires et de pèches blanches. En bouche, vous apprécierez sa belle vivacité, son fruité et sa netteté. Vous pourrez le déguster seul en apéritif, ou au cours d’un repas sur des poissons, des fromages de chèvre. À apprécier dans les deux ans.

Second Bottle for the fresh fruits

https://chateau-monbazillac.com/fr/

Cave Cooperative Monbazillac (vin doux)

AOC Monbazillac https://www.vins-bergeracduras.fr/nos-vins/monbazillac/

Assemblage