“Clearly, the pleasures wines afford are transitory – but so are those of the ballet, or of a musical performance. Wine is inspiring and adds greatly to the joy of living.” — Napoleon
TeamWine assembled on the Monday early evening after the DSO/Heartland Ballet performance of Swan Lake. We gathered in Angela’s backyard with the sun beginning to set and without a bug to be seen. It was a perfect evening to enjoy wine with friends. Take advantage of this pleasing weather by getting a few folks together with wine, food and fellowship!
Sips
Our white wine was Le Sot de l’Ange Melon 2016 LA Boutanche (11-14% abv, $21) and is a French wine from the Beaujolais region. The grape is Melon de Bourgogne, a white grape grown primarily in the Loire Valley of France, but also in Oregon and Washington State in the U.S. The winery, La Boutanche, gets its name from a term that translates to “glou glou,” which refers to a style of wine that is meant to be enjoyed with ease and doesn’t require much thought. This wine lived up to that style by providing nuances of aromas and flavors, but little distinctiveness. It has a clear light-yellow color with a medium body. TeamWine identified a wide swath of fragrances from white rose, golden raisins and dried apricot to crisp pear, cantaloupe and watermelon rind. One person stated it smells like baled hay. Flavors were a challenge to deduce but melon rind and golden raisins came through, as did a tangy, sweet, spicy essence. The finish presented one with a minerally, tinny taste, and another had an olive oil feel and taste. Not unpleasant, but odd for a wine. The wine paired very well with the olives, salami and the white cheeses, but not so well with the cheddar. We felt it would go well with a chicken salad, or possibly a tuna and macaroni salad.
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