| If you are looking for fine French wine and food, | | | | Start with Jambon Persillé (Ham in |
| consider the world famous Burgundy region in | | | | Parsleyed Aspic). |
| eastern France. Although it's fairly rare, you may | | | | For your second course savor Rable de Lievre |
| even find a bargain, and I hope that you'll have | | | | à la Piron (Saddle of Hare with Shallots |
| fun on this fact-filled wine education tour in which | | | | and White Wine). |
| we review a local white wine based on the Aligote | | | | And as dessert indulge yourself with Mousse au |
| grape. | | | | Chocolat (Chocolate Mousse.) |
| Among France's eleven wine-growing regions | | | | OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we |
| Burgundy ranks fourth in acreage if you include | | | | taste and review are purchased at the full retail |
| the Beaujolais region, which most people do in | | | | price. |
| spite of their considerable differences. Partisans, | | | | Wine Reviewed |
| and they are many, claim that Burgundy is really | | | | Jaffelin Bourgogne Aligoté 2005 12.7% |
| the number one or number two wine-producing | | | | about $14.00 |
| region in France, if not in the world. The wine | | | | Let's start by quoting the marketing materials. |
| reviewed below comes from somewhere in | | | | Tasting Note Pale straw colour; Subtle aromas of |
| Burgundy, whose wine production is almost 90% | | | | mineral,citrus, anjou pear and green apple; Dry, |
| white, almost exclusively Chardonnay. The | | | | light bodied, with clean apple/lemon flavours, crisp |
| Aligoté grape is Burgundy's number two | | | | acidity on finish. Serving Suggestion Add cassis for |
| white grape, but remains fairly unknown. We'll find | | | | a Kir, shellfish, light seafood dishes, ceviche or pan |
| out whether this lack of notoriety is deserved or | | | | fried trout. And now for the review. |
| not. In addition to Burgundy Aligoté is | | | | My first meal was whole-wheat spaghetti with a |
| grown in Bulgaria, a not a very-well known wine | | | | homemade tuna, red onion, garlic, and Greek olive |
| producer but one that is occasionally generates | | | | sauce that had a commercial tomato spaghetti |
| bargains. The best Aligoté wines are said | | | | sauce as its base. I doused on a lot of grated |
| to come from the village of Bouzeron and its | | | | Parmesan Cheese. The wine was light and short |
| environs, located in the Côte Chalonnaise | | | | but did linger slightly. It was pleasantly acidic. As I |
| region of Burgundy. These wines are occasionally | | | | continued the meal I realized that this wine is not |
| a blend of Aligoté and Chardonnay. To the | | | | weak. Its acidity was a good accompaniment to |
| best of our knowledge the reviewed wine is pure | | | | fruit-juice candy. |
| Aligoté and does not come from the | | | | The next task for this Aligoté was to |
| Bouzeron area of Burgundy. | | | | accompany bagels, smoked salmon, and 15% |
| If you are visiting Burgundy, and you really should, | | | | cream cheese along with sides of Greek olives |
| make sure to stop by the Côte d'Or village | | | | some with chili pepper flakes, thinly sliced red |
| of Châteauneuf about twenty five miles | | | | onions, and an artichoke, garlic, and tomato salsa. |
| (forty kilometers) southwest of Dijon in northern | | | | The wine was lightly acidic and surprisingly long. |
| Burgundy. This little hilltop village seems to come | | | | The salsa intensified its fruit, but both the olives |
| straight out of the Middle Ages, except for the | | | | and fresh blueberries (no, not together) seemed |
| tourists who have recently discovered it. Its focal | | | | to deaden the wine. |
| point is the Château (Castle) built in 1132 and | | | | The final meal was a disappointing "Louisiana" style |
| occupied by the same family for nine generations | | | | home barbecued chicken sausage. Both the wine |
| until 1456 when Cathrine of Châteauneuf | | | | and the meat were rather tasteless, but when I |
| was burnt to death; it is said that she poisoned | | | | added some very strong mustard the wine's fruit |
| her second husband, Jacques d'Haussonville. The | | | | perked up a bit. The sweetness of the barbecued |
| castle then went through various owners until the | | | | corn on the cob turned up the wine's acidity. But |
| French Revolution when it was expropriated and | | | | the artichoke and garlic salsa made this thin |
| the village's name was changed to Montfranc. | | | | Burgundy, yes it is a Burgundy, even thinner. |
| With the construction of the Burgundy Canal its | | | | The first cheese pairing was with a mild-tasting |
| fate was sealed so to speak. Be sure to see the | | | | Italian Pecorino Fruilano. The wine was light and |
| castle's medieval tapestries and its reflection in the | | | | fruity with decent length. The Dutch Edam was |
| canal. By the way, the famous Châteauneuf | | | | nutty, a bit fatty, and somewhat sour. The |
| du Pape wine is from Provence, not from | | | | cheese itself was tastier; in contrast the wine was |
| Burgundy. | | | | weaker. |
| Before reviewing the Burgundy wine and imported | | | | Final verdict. Burgundy brings its expectations. |
| cheeses that we were lucky enough to purchase | | | | They weren't met by this wine. What do you |
| at a local wine store and a local Italian food store, | | | | want for this moderate price? More than what I |
| here are a few suggestions of what to eat with | | | | got here. If I can get my hands on a Bouzeron |
| indigenous wines when touring this beautiful region. | | | | Aligoté I'll give it a shot. |