Real Wine

Readers of Vine & Grape and members of The Greenville Wine Meetup know how often we've talked about old world vs. new world; non-interventionist winegrowing vs. interventionist winemaking; balance & elegance vs. bold & alcoholic. Readers know I'm not without an opinion in this debate—as none of us should be.

So, it's a pleasure to present a bottle we can call "real wine." Yves Cuilleron consistent produces balanced, intelligent wines of intellectual depth and complexity.

I was seeking a bottle of his Bassenon recently. When I unable to find it, I tried the 2002 Terres Sombres ("dark grounds"). Fabulous!  Dried cranberry, red currant, desiccated cherry, with wonderfully balanced fruit, acidity, alcohol (12.5%, thank you!), and gorgeously silky tannins.  Long, multi-layered finish with rosemary and white pepper beginning at 15-20 seconds.

If you haven't read Questions of Taste: The Philosophy of Wine, buy it to help form wine opinions of your own.  The goal is not for you agree with me. The objective is for all of us to know why we love the wines we love.