Girls' Guide to Paris

Château Coussin Ste.-Victoire Rosé, 2009

7/16/2010 10:01:00 AM

It wasn’t an accident that Paul Cézanne chose to spend more than 20 of his most productive years painting the landscapes in and around Mont Ste.-Victoire, in Provence.
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Château la Coustarelle Grande Cuvée Prestige, 2005

6/18/2010 11:04:00 AM

By Diana Rice

Lately we have seen many popular malbecs from Argentina. But as with numerous New World wines, Argentine malbec is the scion of a classic French grape. Historically malbec has been relied on as a supporting player, giving “backbone” to Bordeaux blends, its dark thick skin adding heft and color. Away from Bordeaux, however, in the region of Cahors (southwestern France) malbec is le roi. >> Read more

Domaine Mardon 2008, Quincy

5/18/2010 11:50:00 AM

By Diana Rice

Domaine Mardon from Quincy, a very old but lesser-known appellation in the Loire Valley, is a finger-snapping white wine that fills your glass with plenty of attitude. It has all the classic spry minerally style you’d expect from a Loire sauvignon blanc (Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé being its more famous neighbors) but includes a little wow factor: a lush softness surrounding the wine’s more acidic backbone, highlighted with notes of lime zest running wild through it like fireflies on a warm summer evening. >> Read more

Lillet Blanc

4/17/2010 12:30:00 PM

By Diana Rice

For years Lillet Blanc had been a bit of a mystery. It was a standard member of other people’s wine racks, but I hadn’t a clue why. Was it a holdover from another era, no longer relevant in modern times? Mais non! Apparently James Bond knew something I didn’t when he famously called for this golden beauty to create the “vesper” martini in Casino Royale.
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Côtes de Blaye, Bordeaux

3/9/2010 8:50:00 AM

By Diana Rice

Xavier Flouret la Victoire 2006
Available at Grand Wine & Liquor
Retail price: $19.99

Most wine drinkers agree that Bordeaux is the preeminent French wine region (Burgundy enthusiasts, please forgive me). At the high end there are Château Lafite, Margaux and Cheval Blanc, which epitomize the region's power and prestige. Yet their superstar status makes them seem completely out of reach. We ought not let the cachet of Bordeaux be offputting. >> Read more

Clos du Mont-Olivet

1/24/2010 5:59:00 PM

By Diana Rice

Clos du Mont-Olivet, 2007
Available at Mt. Kisco Wines & Spirits
Approximate retail price: $40
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Parigot & Richard Crémant Rosé Brut

12/28/2009 11:44:00 AM

By Diana Rice

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