The primary focus at Panzano is sharing our favorite Italian wines with you and we have a paramount rule: we only drink good wine. Honoring our mantra, we feel it is important not to discriminate and offer wines to you that are good even if they aren’t Italian: Enter the French. France is where most people begin their lifelong love affair with wine as there is something for even the most discriminating palate. Burgundy has perfectly structured wines, Bourdeaux and Rhone Valley have the classic robust style, Loire Valley’s whites are heavenly, and I haven’t even mentioned the numerous other regions within the borders of France.

Before we get into the specific wines this week, there is another point about our wine selection that bears reminding: at Panzano, we are as focused on sustainability as we are on quality. “Sustainable” can mean quite a lot when speaking in terms of agriculture, but for our purposes it typically means organic (as well as bio-dynamic farming/production techniques). Not only are these practices good for the environment, but they produce wines that have very distinct personalities and palates.

For the selection on the tasting table this week, we will highlight the 2008 Marechal Bourgogne Rouge from Burgundy, France ($28) and the 2007 Eric Texier Brezeme Cotes du Rhone from Rhone Valley Rhone, France ($25). Both of these wines are produced using biodynamic farming and production methods. The results are wines with wonderful floral aromatics, wines with good acidity and minerality, and wine with fresher berry notes than typically found from either Burgundy or Rhone.

The 2008 Marechal Bourgogne Rouge is exactly what a pinot noir from Burgundy should be. This is a red wine with the characteristics of wild flowers on the nose and a palate of dried violets, bing cherries, tobacco, coffee, and strong enough tannins with a finish that lingers. For a Burgundy under $30, this is a tremendous value.

As for the Rhone from Texier, it presents all the rustic charm that made Rhone Valley famous. On the nose, this wine is full of the scents of tea and dried herbs with hints of licorice in the background. The palate is abundant with rich dark fruit (like plum and cassis) which is held in check by peppercorn spice and ample leather tannins and a finish of raspberry which then fades into notes of black tea and lavender. This combination of structure and balance is almost impossible to find from the Rhone Valley unless you hunt down a pre-2000 vintage and then are prepared to shell out $60 or more.

As always, we will have a few more bottles to explore alongside the wines featured. If you are into classically styled wines and are into or even remotely interested in French wines, this tasting is not to be missed. We look forward to seeing you at the tasting table.

Cheers!

Fred Mullins