Wine & Words

We’ve still got a few of our Yvon Mau Bordeaux Features left, but before we get into July, when we’ll be Featuring American wines all month, I wanted to introduce a few wines from Domaine Houchart in Provence.
     Domaine Houchart is today owned by Geneviève, the wife of Jérôme Quiot, having been originally acquired by her great-grandfather. During the period of the 1850's, Aurelien Houchart created one of the largest domaines in Provence. He counted Cezanne as one of his friends and the two tasted Aurelien’s wines together while they reminisced about their school days.
     Through various inheritances and purchases, the domaine is now 80 hectares (almost 200 acres) in several parcels. This large size means there is a wide variety of soil types and microclimates. The old vines (30 to 50 years) grow in the areas to which they are best suited, yielding top quality blends.
 
Domaine Houchart Cotes du Provence Blanc, Regular Price $14.65/ Feature Price $12.45
This is a blend of Clairette and Rolle (also known as Vermentino). Clairette is the most widely grown white grape in southern France (Languedoc, Provence, Rhone). It is often used to make Vermouth, as it is a low acid grape and, by itself, would make wines described as “flabby.” Rolle, known as “Vermentinu” in Corsica, the southern part of its range, is know for its crisp, bright acidity. Blend the Clairette and the Rolle - et voilá - a refreshing summertime wine that starts with notes of peach fruit and ends with a nice citrus tang.
 
Domaine Houchart Cotes du Provence Rouge, Regular Price $13.75/ Feature Price $11.69
The red version is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon and Mourvedre - the usual suspects of the souther Rhone and Provence. The vines are an average of 40 years old, so the grape flavors are deep and complex, with nice spice notes. The wine is medium-bodied, so it’s a great summer red that could even be served lightly chilled.
 
Domaine Houchart Côtes de Provence Rosé, Regular Price $13.75/ Feature Price $11.69
This is the wine that summertime visitors to Provence would sip while sitting at a bistro table on the edge of a cobbled street. We’ve been drinking a lot of it this summer. It’s a dry blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon and Mourvedre. You don’t even need to know all that. Just taste it, close your eyes...and chill.