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Winery
Domaine Francois Carillon
Vintage: 2011
The year 2011 was an interesting year for many northern and central European countries, as the weather was more than unpredictable in the spring and summer. However, in most countries, the climatic conditions thankfully settled down in the late summer and fall. The result of this slightly difficult year of weather in France was a set of surprisingly small yields, but overall, these yields were of a higher quality than those harvested in certain previous years. A fantastic set of wines was also made in Italy and Spain, and the Rioja wines - when released - are set to be very good indeed. Austria also had superb year in 2011, with almost fifty percent more grapes being grown and used for their distinctive Gruner Veltliner wines than in the year before. Possibly the European country which had the finest 2011, though, was Portugal, with wineries in the Douro region claiming this year to be one of the best in decades for the production of Port wine, and the bright, young Vinho Verdes wines.
In the New World, the Pacific Northwest saw some of the best weather of 2011, and Washington State and Oregon reportedly had a highly successful year, especially for the cultivation of high quality red wine grapes. Chile and Argentina had a relatively cool year, which certainly helped retain the character of many of their key grape varietals, and should make for some exciting drinking. South Africa had especially good weather for their white wine grape varietals, particularly Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, and many South African wineries are reporting 2011 as one of their best years in recent memory.
Varietal: Chardonnay
There are few white wine grape varietals as famous or widely appreciated as the Chardonnay, and with good reason. This highly flexible and adaptable grape quickly became a favorite of wineries due to its fairly neutral character. This neutrality allows the wineries to really show off what they are capable of doing, by allowing features of their terroir or aging process to come forward in the bottle. As well as this, most high quality wineries which produce Chardonnay wines take great efforts to induce what is known as malolactic fermentation, which is the conversion of tart malic acids in the grapes to creamy, buttery lactic acids associated with fine Chardonnay. Whilst the popularity of Chardonnay wines has fluctuated quite a considerable amount over the past few decades, it seems the grape varietal allows enough experimentation and versatility for it always to make a successful comeback.
Region: Burgundy
There are few more famous wine regions in the world than Burgundy, and this special area has given much to raise the profile of fine French wines around the world. Although most commonly associated with excellent quality red wines made with the Pinot Noir varietal, this region is home to several red and white varietals and produces and impressive range of wines, from still to sparkling, dry to sweet, full bodied and aged, and from to light and drinkable. The region of Burgundy has been producing excellent wines for centuries, with much evidence to suggest that the ancient Gauls were the first to cultivate the native vines which flourish here in the warm summers, and on the excellent soil fed by local rivers. This type of heritage has led to a wine industry highly unique, deeply traditional, and with an exquisite reputation to uphold.
Country: France
French winemakers are subjected to several laws and regulations regarding the wines they produce, and how they can be labeled and sold. Such procedures are designed to increase the overall quality of the country's produce, and also to ensure that wines made in each particular region or appellation are of a character and type which is representative of the area. Thankfully for consumers of wine world-wide, the French have a particularly high reputation to uphold, and seem to do so flawlessly. Every year, wineries from all over France produce millions upon millions of bottles of fine wine, making the most of their native grape varieties and the excellent terrain which covers most of the country. From the expensive and exquisite red wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy, to the white wines and cremants of central France, the French are dedicated to providing the world with wines of the highest quality and most distinctive character.
Appellation: Cote De Beaune
The historic and utterly enchanting French region of Cote De Beaune has been producing what are widely regarded as many of the world's finest wines for centuries. The wine industry in Cote De Beaune predominantly revolves around the cultivation and processing of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, which flourish under the hot summer sunshine which typifies the area. Mineral rich soils, sea breezes and centuries of experience and expertise help in growing these characterful grapes and transforming them into something truly remarkable. Cote De Beaune white wines tend to be intense, packed full of fascinating fruit flavors and plenty of mineral character, thanks to the fine features of the terroir being expressed through the juice of the Chardonnay grapes. The red wines, on the other hand, are very good indeed - light, fruity and irresistible.