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Wine Tips |
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Translating French |
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If you're afraid of purchasing or ordering wines from France because of their strange and
hard to pronounce names, this article was made for you. Many wine drinkers shy away from
French wines because they just don't know that most of the wines are made with familiar
grapes and labeled by the region in which the wine was made instead of the name of the
grape. Here we'll be giving you a quick guide that'll "translate" these French wines
for you.
We must note that these French wines will be different from the American versions of the
same varietal due to their unique winemaking approach and belief in the notion of terroir
(see this article for a definition). The
result will usually be wines that feature more earthy characteristics and subdued fruit
in the aroma and flavor. We'll discuss the differences of each entry below.
Let's start with the French whites ...
White Burgundy = Chardonnay
Absolutely marvelous white wines come out of the Burgundy region, all made from 100%
Chardonnay . Be prepared for these wines to be quite different from the buttery California
Chardonnays that most Americans are used to. The French style is leaner and much more
focused on clean, tight fruit. Look for these regions on the label: Mersault,
Puligny-Montrachet, Chablis and Mâconnais.
Purchase the Wines of Burgundy, including this exquisite Grand Cru from Domaine Laroche if you're looking for the best of the best.
Sancerre & Pouilly-Fumé = Sauvignon Blanc
These two regions make extremely herbaceous and steely Sauvignon Blancs , quite different
from the popular New Zealand style. The essence is all about minerals and stones, with
a musky scent commonly referred to as "cat's pee." And that's a desired smell! So, if
most American or New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs are too soft or wimpy for you, these
pungent, acidic wines might be perfect for you. Buy a fantastic Sancerre from Pascal Jolivet or this Ladoucette Pouilly-Fumé online.
And now let's talk about the French reds ...
Red Burgundy = Pinot Noir
Some of the most gorgeous, complex wines in the world are the Pinot Noirs that are
produced in Burgundy. While the Pinot Noir from the United States is known for its
delicate, crowd-pleasing fruitiness, the French version provides more depth and introduces
hints of earth, mushroom and other unique characteristics. Villages you'll often see on
menus that will tell you that you're looking at red Burgundy are Vosne-Romanée,
Nuits-Saint-Georges, Chambolle-Musigny and Gevrey-Chambertin, all from the world-famous
Côte d'Or ("Golden Slope"). Purchase the Wines of Burgundy online.
Bordeaux = A combination of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
By law, French Bordeaux must be made of a combination of five grapes, with a vasty majority being
primarily composed of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot . Bordeaux, besides being quite expensive
(especially the legendary First Growths), offers up massive
richness and essences of blackberry, leather, coffee and major earth. French Bordeaux is also
incredibly tannic when young, needing a decade or more to mature and reach its peak. Famous
districts of Bordeaux include Médoc, Graves, St.-Emillion and Pomerol. You'll find a large
selection of Bordeaux to purchase online at wine.com.
Côte Rôtie & Hermitage = Syrah
The Northern part of the Rhône Valley produces dark, peppery Syrah that packs a big punch
that's quite different from American Syrah or the more fruit-forward, sun-kissed Aussie Shiraz
that's so popular. These French Syrahs combine the typical plum and spice of the New World
variety with leather, tar and significant tannin. If you're dining on meats such as lamb or
venison, then these French Syrahs are ideal. Here's a world-class Jaboulet Hermitage (mid-90s scorer), or a more affordable Eric Texier Côte Rôtie .
Châteaneuf-du-Pape & Côtes du Rhône = Blends of Grenache, Syrah and more
Moving into the Southern part of the Rhône Valley you'll find some rustic, powerful red blends
that are designed to be consumed with heavy meals such as sausage, stew and veal. The primary grape
is Grenache, known for being sweet, fruity and low in tannin. The blending of Syrah, Mourvedre and
others brings the spice and punch to the equation. Côtes du Rhône represents the value
of this region, while Châteaneuf can be expensive but also world-class. Online, you can buy
a number of marvelous Châteaneuf-du-Papes including Château de Beaucastel,  Chapoutier,  Jaboulet and Perrin.
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