Wines of the week | In the Olympic spirit

In the spirit of the Olympic Games, which celebrate excellence, here are three French wines from excellent winemakers. A white, a rosé and a red from different regions, all very accurate expressions of their terroir. Close your eyes while tasting: they will transport you to their place of origin.

Affordable

Inspired by Jules Verne

Today, the sixth generation of the Lieubeau family runs this estate established in Château-Thébaud, in the Sèvre et Maine area of ​​Muscadet, southeast of Nantes. This cuvée, inspired by Jules Verne, a local boy, offers a delicate, fresh and fruity nose, with aromas of pear, peach and citrus fruits. A delicately creamy texture caresses the palate, and the mouth shows substance, despite its low alcohol content, thanks in part to aging on lees for several months. Notes of cream and shellfish develop, and a saline impression stretches out on the finish. Supple and fresh, and very unifying, it is ideal for an aperitif and will naturally accompany shellfish: raw, escabeche, grilled with lemon and herbs, in pasta with cream and parsley.

Storage: 1 to 2 years

Lieubeau Family Muscadet Voyage Extraordinaire 2022, $18.20 (14588600), 12%, organic

Consult the SAQ file

Classic

All in harmony

Classic, this rosé from the Rhone Valley offers a superb nose, with scents of Provence, with notes of peach, lavender and fennel. Fruity, spicy and floral notes blend into a very harmonious whole. A lovely fat coats the palate, and very light tannins bring a little chew. But it also shows a surprising finesse and freshness, thanks to the location of its terroir, one of the most northerly of the Côtes du Rhône, its altitude (at around 400 meters) and its limestone soils. We also recognize the meticulous work of winemaker Stéphane Vedeau, in the vineyard as well as in the cellar, who produces complete wines, always full of sparkle and vitality. A tasty rosé, which will be delicious as an aperitif as well as at the table with a tomato tart, a pissaladière, orange shrimp, a pizza with grilled vegetables.

Storage: 1 to 2 years

Clos Bellane Côtes du Rhône Altitude 2023, $22.65 (12513567), 12.5%, organic

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Discovery

pretty nose

An hour east of Bordeaux, the Côtes-du-Marmandais stretches on both sides of the Garonne. Vines are less omnipresent than in Gironde; many crops grow side by side. The same grape varieties are found as in Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, but not only. Abouriou, a local grape variety saved from extinction, is at the heart of this vintage, with Cabernet Franc and a little Merlot. What a lovely nose! Fruity, harmonious, appetizing, it opens with aromas of cherry, raspberry and blackcurrant, with a little flowers and garrigue. The palate, fresh and slender, offers a ripe and crisp material, with a hint of sanguine and a finish with a mineral impression. Light and gourmet, with just the right amount of tannins for chewiness, it is a complete and tasty wine. Beef tartare, grilled sausages, roast chicken, vegetable tian.

Storage: 1 to 2 years

Elian Da Ros Wine is a celebration Côtes-du-Marmandais 2021, $24.80 (15004266), 12.5%

Consult the SAQ file