6.29.2012

The Royal Fur[mint]

Royal Tokaji 2009 Furmint, NE Hungary.

Such pretty Furmint sparkles in my glass! Well, its not literally sparkling, but it sure is shiny! I've been itching to taste this rare Hungarian grape for years, and finally-finally, this delectable 2009 was placed before my eager fingers.



So I scribbled on my napkin... Leesy goodness. Bright, long, butternut squash blossoms, rich chamomille, powdery beeswax, clean, intense, lingering. Near hoppy grain on the nose. Slight reisling-esque petrol. Thick, fresh, whipped buttercream. Apricot compote and rind of creamy brie. Orange zested olive oil. Jasmine! Lovely, elegant toasty vanilla oak. Sweet hay. Dry. Juicy. Voluptuous. Round.

Plus: bonus sparkles!

6.15.2012

Blind Tasting Win!

We love to blind taste. It's sort of an intellectual pastime in the Rabbit Hole, and tonight it was my turn to take the challenge. I'm tasting warm chamomile and round honied lemon on an unoaked-yet-creamoliciously juicy body. So, I went with my best guess, a youthful Muscadet Sur Lie---Surprise! It's a refreshing Muscadet! I've been in love with these playful Loire Valley whites recently. With a little sur lie (resting on the lees for a soft, elegant texture) these little French gems  are simply bright and super tasty. Can't wait to drink this in the upcoming summer sun!



Wines entitled Muscadet Sevre et Maine are made just SouthEast of beautiful Nantes, near the Atlantic coast of France, using only Melon de Bourgogne grapes. Ah, to spend a gorgeous day idling by the Loire river harvesting fresh oysters, bottle of chilled, minerally Muscadet in hand! It's a classic pairing, you know! I realize it's a little confusing that Muscadet isn't made from Muscat, which is also called Muscatto & Muscadelle  (and is the main variety in Muscatel), and that Melon de Bourgogne can be the sole variety in a non-"Bourgogne" bottle! Wine laws can be quite befuddling on occasion, but that doesn't make them less delicious. Plus these are bottles we can all afford---we should all be drinking more Muscadet!