Bastille Day 14 French Wines To Drink
France is synonymous with viticulture and produces some of the best wines in the entire world. The diversity and richness in French wine is unmatched. From the rolling vines of Bordeaux to lush hills of Burgundy. As if Paris’ calendar wasn’t already packed, the Tour de France is taking place this month, and the Summer Olympics are also in Paris. There’s also Bastille Day (also known as “La Fete Nationale”), which falls on July 14th. There will be many occasions to toast the French motto of liberty, equality, and fraternity in July.
Here are 10 bottles for you to open. Not all at once of course. But any Francophile or oenophile will surely find a wine that tickles their palate.
Langlois Brut Réserve
The Loire Valley has seen a surge in popularity as consumers have discovered their outstanding quality and value. Langlois is a benchmark producer in the region of sparkling wine and offers elegant French sparkling wines. Langlois has recently shifted its focus to only its cremants. This has solidified its reputation as the leading authority in premium sparkling wines and Chenin Blanc in the region. They age their wine twice as long and incorporate reserve wine for complexity and depth of flavor. Langlois’ Cremant De Loire is perfect for outdoor dining, summer picnics, and backyard barbecues. Its bubbles and citrus notes make it a great choice. It’s also easy to enjoy by the glass, or as a spritz.
Champagne Billecart-Salmon Brut Réserve
Champagne Billecart Salmon, founded over 200 years ago in France, is one of the few remaining family-owned champagne houses. Mathieu roland-billecart is the seventh generation to lead the company. The Brut Reserve champagne is a fine, light and harmonious blend made from pinot noir grapes, chardonnay grapes and meunier from three different vintages, sourced only from the best Champagne sites.
Hubert Brochard Sancerre 2023
Hubert Brochard is a family owned estate that is renowned for their terroir driven approach to sancerre. Their flagship wine, which maintains the hallmarks of the house, epitomizes the summer. Hubert Brochard, a family-owned estate renowned for its terroir-driven approach to sancerre, epitomizes summer with their flagship wine that maintains the hallmark of the house identity. With its racy acidity, this sancerre is perfect for hot summer days. Its subtle fruit notes, elegant balance, and elegant balance are ideal for summer dishes like salads or seafood. The taste is a silver-straw colour with green streaks. It has a sharp, citrus aroma, lime peel and grapefruit blossom.
William Fevre Domaine Chanson Chablis 2022
Chanson’s Chablis captures the essence of this renowned Burgundy town. It is sourced from hillside plots in the village and has the signature crispness of the region, as well as intense acidity, green apple, and a mineral undertone. This vintage is characterized by a balanced temperature and careful harvesting. It produces a wine that has delicate floral aromas and a revitalizing end. The combination of terroir and meticulous winemaking produces a chablis with a phenolic maturity similar to Premier and Grand Cru Wines, perfect for summer nights or al fresco dining.
La Chablisienne Chablis Le Finage 2020
This chardonnay is perfect for those who are looking for a refined chardonnay made from the oldest vineyards in France. This affordable Burgundy wine is a standout with its pear aromas, herbs, and lemon. This cuvee, made by a cooperative of growers that celebrated its centennial last year, embodies classic Burgundy.
Roseblood Blanc 2023
This wine, made at the renowned Chateau d’Estoublon, in Provence by Carla Bruni, a model and singer, and Nicolas Sarkozy (former President), is a great choice for summer. It is a delicious blend of semillon, rolle and sauvignon grapes. The wine has a citrusy flavor with a subtle zing. Its moderate alcohol content (12.50%) makes it a pleasant wine to drink without overwhelming your palate.
Chateau Minuty Rose
This is the bottle to choose if you’re looking to spend a little more on roses this summer, but still want to ensure that it is a high-quality bottle. The 2023 Vintage Cotes de Provence has a clear cuvee, with a delicate aroma dominated by tart red fruits and hints of apricot. The blend is composed of 70% grenache grapes, 15% syrah grapes, 10% cinsault grapes and 5% rolls. These grapes are sourced from specific estate plots and selected terroirs in Provence. Its straightforward personality makes it an excellent companion to a variety of dishes. From oysters and ceviche to grilled fish, sushi, and Provencal vegetable dishes. It is best enjoyed between 46deg and 50degF.
La Fete du Rose 2022
La Fete du Rose was launched in 2019 with the aim of being a modern, inclusive brand that appeals to wine drinkers from all backgrounds. In 2021, La Fete du Blanc was introduced, which became a permanent product in 2022. La Fete du Rouge followed in 2023. According to consumer information firm Circana La Fete du Rose is the third most popular luxury imported rose in the United States. In January 2022 12-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul joined the company as an equity partner. Since its founding, the company has donated proceeds from each bottle sold towards programs that support underrepresented youths and BIPOC communities in the wine and spirit industry. La Fete du Rose, a blend of 61% grenache grapes, 23% cinsault grapes, and 16% syrah, is crafted in Cotes de Provence. It features a bright, cantaloupe-tinted color.
Gerard Bertrand Cote des Roses Rose
Most people associate the French Riviera with summer in southern France. The Cote des roses is a tranquil and beautiful place located in Languedoc, France, further west along the Mediterranean. It’s closer to Iberia. In retrospect, it’s surprising that Provence, with its name and the high quality of its wines, is more associated with rose wine. The French winemaking legend Gerard Bertrand named this bottle in honor of Provence. It is a soft, full-bodied rose that pairs well with shellfish, subtly spiced food and other aperitifs.
Chateau d’Esclans Garrus
Even the casual wine drinker is familiar with Whispering Angel when it comes to rose. What many wine drinkers do not know is that the company that created the rose industry produces a number of high-quality luxury rose wines. Garrus is the most notable, made from vines that are nearly 100 years old. Garrus, a powerful and elegant wine aged exclusively in large French oak barrels that were newly fermented, was the central vision of winemaker Sacha LIchine to elevate roses to a grand status.
