Tune In to Wine with David Kohl : Bordeaux, Burgundy &; Beyond

The sparkling wine known as “Pet Nat” has become quite trendy with the younger generation. Petillant Naturel is also considered “method ancestral” as a sparkling wine concept even older than champagne itself. Developed by The Ancient Romans, the method involves bottling the wine while it is still fermenting. Today David Kohl tastes a thoroughly refreshing rose Pet Nat from Clairette de Die region in The Rhône Valley, with fruits such as strawberry and melon that seem to leap out of the glass. #petnat #sparklingwine #winevideo #winetasting

Croatia lays claim to one of the world’s oldest wine regions, with vineyards originally planted by The Ancient Greeks. Today David Kohl highlights Croatia’s Peljesac Peninsula, located on The Adriatic Sea across from Italy’s wine region of Puglia. The indigenous grapes of Peljesac Peninsula eventually migrated to Puglia and became known as Primitivo. When those regional Italians then brought their own vines to California during the 1800’s the grape varietal evolved into what we know today as Zinfandel. A point of interest is that Mike Grgich, a renowned Croatian-American winemaker who recently died at the age of 100, was the talent behind Chateau Montelena 1973 vintage Chardonnay that won Grand Prize at the Paris competition made famous in the movie Bottle Shock. #winevideo #croatianwine #indigenousgrapes #mikegrgich

David Kohl presents a wine region that may be “off the beaten path” for most consumers : Madiran. The vineyards of Madiran are located in southwest France, at the unique point where the foothills of The Pyrenees Mountains meet the maritime influences of The Atlantic coastline. Chateau Montus owned by Alain Brumont is one of Madiran’s top estates, producing old vine Tannat wines blended with Merlot, rich in dark fruits, infused with deep forest scent. Retailing in the $25-30 range, these wines will be a great find for adventurous consumers. #chateaumontus #alainbrumont #madiranwine #tannat #oldvines

It may be too early to gauge the news from Bordeaux’s 2023 En Primeur events, but there is a vibe that the vintage may not be judged on par with heralded vintages in recent memory, such as 2019 & 2022. David Kohl discusses the challenges faced in Bordeaux during 2023. Based on conversations with his sources, he wonders how pricing for the vintage will ultimately emerge. Stay tuned for more news when the Futures campaign officially begins … #bordeauxwine #bourdeaux2023 #enprimeur #winenews #bordeauxnews

Chateau Pavie is a renowned Grand Cru wine growing estate in Bordeaux’s St. Emilion region. In fact it is one of the “pied cote” vineyards located walking distance to St. Emilion’s historic town center. David Kohl recalls his meetings with The Valette Family, the prior owners of Chateau Pavie who sold the property to Gerard + Chantal Perse. This new ownership team was able to invest the necessary capital to improve the infrastructure and elevate the winemaking process. Long a favorite of Robert Parker, Chateau Pavie also produces a value selection known as Esprit, tasted today by David Kohl. #chateaupavie #stemilion #bordeauxwine #winevideo #gerardperse

David Kohl highlights one of the top producers from his import portfolio : Chateau Melin from Auxey Durresses in Burgundy. With prices in Burgundy escalating, consumers will appreciate this $25 range Chardonnay from Hautes Cotes de Beaune, a Burgundy region in close parallel to the terroir of Chassagne Montrachet. This is a beautiful wine that features all the toasty / buttery reflections of a classic White Burgundy. #chardonnay #burgundywine #chateaudemelin #auxeyduresses #winetasting

Presenting a lesser known wine region in France : Cassis. Mind you this has no relationship to the sweet liqueur named Cassis. France’s Cassis wine region is a Mediterranean coastal village located in Provence, nearby to Marseille. The wines produced in Cassis are quite refreshing and also food centric, pairing perfectly with local fish, especially the area’s signature bouillabaisse. Cassis wines are not widely distributed in The USA but have found a niche in specialty wine shops and top seafood restaurants. #provencewine #winetasting #mediterraneanwine #whitewine #coastalwine

David Kohl highlights France’s Jurancon wine growing region, a lesser known appellation located at the foot of The Pyrenees Mountains. While Jurancon does not receive attention from wine writers or retail shops, it is a source of lively + flavorful dry white wines. Jurancon’s prime location with proximity to both The Atlantic Ocean & The Pyrenees Mountains provides a unique array of climate influences for its native grapes such as Petit Manseng. With a typical price tag in the $25 range, these are value selections. #juracon #pyreneeswine #winevideo #winetasting #uniquewine

David Kohl explains the process of opening + decanting an old & rare wine when it shows signs of fragility, such as this 1967 Chave Hermitage from The Rhone Valley. It is not a good idea to insert a corkscrew in the middle of the cork, because the brittle cork may break or drop into the bottle. Instead, the cork should be carefully removed by gripping its sides with a device known as an Ah-So. When decanting the wine, it is important to catch the sediment with a strainer. This bottle does display its age, and is likely at least 10 years past its peak drinking window. But it still provides a unique + memorable tasting experience , especially when paired with rich and creamy French cheeses. #oldandrarewine #chavehermitage #winedecanting #1967rhonewine #openfragilewine

Sancerre from France’s Loire Valley is currently favored by wine consumers and is in strong global demand. What distinguishes the Sauvignon Blanc selections in Sancerre from Sauvignon Blanc selections in other international regions ? David Kohl believes it is the unique soil composition that infuses Sancerre with its energy. At a recent visit to Domaine Reverdy in Sancerre’s village of Verdigny, David explored the various native soils such as Terre Blanche, Silex and Cuillottes. This range of mineral based terroir provides Sancerre with its classic character. #sancerre #loirevalley #sauvignonblanc #terroir #winevideo