The gift of wine… and a gift of wine. When I learned in December that the Winophiles prompt for January 2024 was French wines received as a gift, I rolled my eyes: no one other than Sue gives me wine. And when Sue gives me wine, it’s from wineries she’s visited that she wants me to know about, and I usually tuck them away so we can write about them later.  

So instead I thought I’d write about the abstract idea of the gift of wine, and since the Winophiles prompt and my birthday line up with Cassoulet Day, and I already had three samples of Côtes du Rhône waiting for tasting, I figured we were covered; link here to that article. Scroll down to see links to posts from other participants. 

Then came Christmas. I found a bottle of Gnarly Head Grateful Dead wine, so I had to give it to my husband who has seen over 100 Grateful Dead shows, and well over 100 of Dead-like shows. I thought we’d open it with prime rib for Christmas, but he’s treasuring it, and hoping I’ll find another one. In turn, he surprisingly gave me a bottle of Lasorda Family Wine bearing Tommy’s Number 2 and made as a Sangiovese super Tuscan style blend reflecting his Italian heritage. I’m looking forward to Sue making a lasagna to pair with this one!

Later Christmas Day, a friend came over for Christmas dinner bearing a bottle of 2019 Famille Perrin Côtes du Rhône Reserve. Yes, a French wine, from a family known for being a leader in biodynamic wine, perfect to pair with my birthday cassoulet but not as perfect with prime rib as the Joseph Carr Napa cabernet she brought over on a previous occasion. Fortunately, she didn’t mind at all that I tucked the bottle she brought away, and I happily opened up two bottles of Joseph Carr, one from Napa and one from Paso that I’d picked up in anticipation of a future post. (Don’t hold your breath: the only photos I took that night were of the sunset at the beach even though I set a beautiful table with my husband’s smoked prime rib at the center.)

So instead of writing about the gift of wine, here’s a bit about this particular gift… and scroll down for links to the various gifts that French wine has given us this past year while participating in Winophiles. 

 

2019 Famille Perrin Côtes du Rhône Reserve

ABV: 14.5%
SRP: $14
Grapes: Grenache 40%, Mourvèdre 40%, Syrah 20%
This wine was a hostess gift. 

Imported by Vineyard Brands, the “Famille Perrin” uses organic and biodynamic approaches to growing grapes and making wine which they blend to bring out “freshness of the Southern aromas.”

Appearance:  Medium density, ruby, fushia rim.

Aroma: Violets, blueberries, cherries, eucalyptus, baking spices.

Palate: Blue fruit, raspberry, sage, pine tar, pine needles, raspberry, meaty finish, rich, bright acidity, balanced tannins,  very smooth.

Pairing: Very nice with our fall salad, loves the hint of orange an sweet juicy pear highlighting the tart fruit in the wine, there are many interesting contrasting flavors in this dish, nice with the warm brie on bread, The bites of the cassoulet are perfect with the wine. The salt, the richness, the complexity of flavors are so amazing together with the wine. 

Notably, this wine was still great several days later! Impressive for only $14, and made with organic grapes.

Thanks, Karen! 

Check out these gifts of wine from other Winophiles:

• Camilla of Culinary Cam shares “A Red Blend from the Slopes of ‘The Giant of Provence’, Slow-Braised Venison Stew, and Merci“.
• Terri of Our Good Life says “Thank You for the Bordeaux! Plus the cassoulet we paired with it“. 
• Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm is “Celebrating a New Wine Collaboration with a Bottle of Cahors gifted to me from Family visiting from France“.
• Jeff of Food Wine Click tells “How to Gift a Wine for Your Wine Geek Friend“.
• Linda of My Full Wine Glass tells of “A Gift to the Planet: Biodynamic Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley“.
• Susannah of Avvinare is “Drinking Aged Bordeaux from Chateau La Mission Haut Brion“. 
• Here at Wine Predator we do double duty with “Birthday Wishes, Gifts: Cassoulet with Cotes du Rhone from Domaine du Pegau, Maison Sinnae, Famille Ravoir” and “The Gift of Wine and A Gift of Wine: 2019 Famille Perrin Cotes du Rhone Reserve with Cassoulet“

Changes for Winophiles in 2024

After many years of faithfully posting with the Winophiles prompts each month, the group has decided to cut back and only publish three times in 2024 on the second Saturday of the month in January, May, September. Wine Pairing Weekend will be next month in February, then in June, and October. Most themes have yet to be determined. We’re excited as this will open up our schedule for other kinds of content, and I will have more time for wine and other writing projects.

The Gifts of French Wine in 2023

Here’s what we did in 2023 with the French Winophiles with links to other participants. 

January: Rhone Valley Diversity | Jill Barth | North or South

• On Wine Predator with links to other participants:
  A Range of Rhone Wines Provide Delightful Diversity Paired with Citrus Salad and Instant Pot Cassoulet (with recipes!)

February: Jura | Jeff Burrows | Any aspect of the Jura.

• On Wine Predator with links to other participants: 
  Enjoying Jura’s Wine and Cuisine: Biodynamic Champ Divin Crémant du Jura Brut Zéro + Seared Scallops

March:  France’s Women in Wine Working Sustainably/ Gwendolyn Alley /any region, any role but showcase their work that’s good for the Earth

• On Wine Predator with links to other participants: 
  Wine Women Working Sustainably in Bordeaux + the Bats and Bees of Château Puyanché #Winophiles 

April:  Springtime in Paris – Bistro Wine and Food | Cindy Rynning | Share your favorite Parisian bistro wines and foods – bonus points for your own experiences in the City of Light

• On Wine Predator with links to other participants: 
  Countering Paris Blues with French Rosé and Monte Cristo Seasoned Fontal Sandwiches for Winophiles 

May: Chardonnay / Deanna Kang / aligns with Chardonnay Day on May 25

• On Wine Predator with links to other participants:
  Celebrating Chardonnay: Chard White Lasagna with Bourgogne’s Paul Pernot, Czech’s Thaya, Oregon’s Nysa #Winophiles

June: Normandy for D-Day | Wendy Klik | Drinks, food, travel, culture

• On Wine Predator with links to other participants:
  Organic Normandy Cider with Calvados Cream Pork Loin and an ancient map #winophiles

July:  New World Endeavors of French Wine Producers | Cathie Jenks Schafer

• On Wine Predator with links to other participants:
  La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir and Les Cadrans de Lassegue Saint-Emilion Grand Cru: Two Jackson Family Wines from Two Countries Paired with Pork Roast #Winophiles

August: Summer in Provence | Linda Whipple

• On Wine Predator with links to other participants:
  French Rosé Wine from Provence… and Côtes du Rhône paired with Fish Tacos #winophiles
  
  

September: French Fall Flavors 

• On Wine Predator with links to other participants:
  Fall Flavors Inspired by France’s Loire: Muscadet and Savennieres Paired with Grilled Oysters, Baked Brie, Roasted Figs #Winophiles
  
  

October: Cru Bourgeois | Susannah Gold

• On Wine Predator with links to other participants:
  $20 Merlot from Bordeaux: 2015 Château Bardoulet Saint-Émilion Grand Cru paired with beef stew stuffed squash #winophiles

November: The Ebb and Flow of Beaujolais Nouveau / Camilla Mann / Are You a Fan?

• On Wine Predator with links to other participants:
  2016 Georges Dubœuf Domaine des Rosiers Gamay, Moulin-à-Vent, Beaujolais with… wait, how old? #winophiles
  
  

December: Bubbly, anyone?

• On Wine Predator with links to other participants:
  Considering Crémant: 3 Bottles of Bubbly from France for #Winophile Wintry Wonders with latkes + caviar, duck sausage puffs

What say you about the gift of wine or gifts of wine French or otherwise??