2008 Bourgogne / Maison Bertrand Ambroise

For just under $20, this Pinot Noir is a great starting point from which to begin a journey into the world of Burgundy wines. It’s easy to get lost in Burgundy with more than 100,000 acres of vines, 15,000 growers, and 100 or more négociant (wine brokerage) firms that purchase grapes from small producers throughout the region for blending. While négociants account for more than 70% of Burgundy’s total wine production, this 2008 Bourgogne boasts “Maison” (meaning house) along side the producer’s name, indicating that Bertrand Ambroise is a large enough producer to both grow all their own grapes, and make their own wine. Holding the classification of Appellation Bourgogne Contrôlée indicates that the producer is allowed to source any one (or all) of their own vineyards for the production of this wine, lending flexibility in their selection to insure an adequate harvest of top quality grapes for the final blend.

I found this Burgundy to be somewhat rustic in style, medium bodied, well balanced, and moderately acidic with light but dry and earthy tannins. I also experienced ripe and dusty fruit on the nose, mild yet concentrated cranberry on the palate, and a hint of tobacco on the finish. This Burgundy should pair nicely with mildly spiced dishes of grilled or roasted chicken, turkey, duck, lamb, or pork; and the addition of a wine reduction or mushroom sauce would make it even better! I could also see this wine pairing nicely with a beef stew, medium grilled fish in a rich or hearty sauce, and a number of firm and savory cheeses such as Manchego, Romano, Swiss, and Gouda.

August Briggs; 2007 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

August Briggs is a family owned Napa Valley winery known for producing limited quantities of coveted wines created from various top vineyards across the northern coastal counties of California. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Joe Briggs (the winery owner) on a couple of occasions, and I can personally vouch for his passion and dedication to making consistently great wines that are dictated not by predetermined commitment, but rather by the quantity of quality grape supply available to work with. August Briggs wines are characterized by unwavering balance and complexity, intense fruit structure, and a classy packaging highlighted by rich gold lettering and an artist’s depiction of a dandelion blowing in the wind.

The 2007 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir further validates August Briggs as a quality producer, raising the bar yet again. With only 340 cases of production, the grapes were hand sorted and de-stemmed, and the wine  underwent malo-lactic fermentation (for a more balanced level of acidity) prior to being barrel aged for 8 months (30% in new French oak, and 70% in two to three year old French oak). Being bottled without fining or filtration for enhanced character, you can expect to experience a Burgundian style California Pinot with  refined balance and a premium level of complexity. I found this wine fairly deep in color (for a Pinot) and medium bodied, with mouth watering (yet well balanced) acidity, mild floral notes of violets and jasmine, dense fruit flavors of spiced cherry and raspberry, and a long rich finish with refined notes of cigar box and sweet spice. As an additional note, this August Briggs Pinot Noir was a unanimous hit among 12 participants in a wine class I hosted last week,  featured among five other quality wines (2 Rhone style whites, a Burgundy, and a quality Alexander Valley Bordeaux style red).

This wine can be found for around $40 and should nicely compliment moderately seasoned dishes of pork, lamb, game, or beef, and a number of red wine, herb, or fruit based sauces. I would also  recommend grilled or roasted vegetables, hearty soups, or more simply even meatloaf or lasagna. If you’re a cheese lover, try a hearty Swiss, Gouda, Parmesan, Manchego, or any of your favorite savory hard cheeses.