WTN: Totally Franc

Good reccos, Mark. When I first moved to Washington just over 20 yrs ago, the grocer nearest me had the entry level Baudry Chinon in their wine department for like $13. I went thru scads of it before the store fired the wine stewards (a quote unquote corporate restructuring at all their stores) and geek names like Baudry disappeared to make room for more Meomi and Tres Picos.

I miss those days!

No doubt, Jenise. I wish I could pick up Baudry Domaine at the local grocer! We did for a brief, shining, moment, have a wine buyer at our one independent grocer, but that was close to a decade ago -- and even then the wines were mostly WS darlings.

[Jenise]

The good news for me is that the steward responsible for stocking those Baudrys and many other geek favorites became a good friend who I generally see every couple of weeks, he's one the Dorks group I'm part of and like a little brother to me. The only Baudry in my cellar now is a rose which I lucked into somewhere.

Speaking of roses, dry roses are increasingly attractive to me. I had another glass of that Depueble (sp?) last night with dinner, which was a vbeef enchilada pie smothered in an avocado/tomato/onion/cilantro salad. I can't think of another style of wine that would make even half as much sense with a dish like that. The Baudry would have been even better.

The good news for me is that the steward responsible for stocking those Baudrys and many other geek favorites became a good friend who I generally see every couple of weeks, he's one the Dorks group I'm part of and like a little brother to me. The only Baudry in my cellar now is a rose which I lucked into somewhere.

Speaking of roses, dry roses are increasingly attractive to me. I had another glass of that Depueble (sp?) last night with dinner, which was a vbeef enchilada pie smothered in an avocado/tomato/onion/cilantro salad. I can't think of another style of wine that would make even half as much sense with a dish like that. The Baudry would have been even better.

Yeah, Baudry's Rosé is a perennial favorite chez nous. Will have to keep an eye out for the Depeuble. We've also liked some vintages of Navarro's Rose of Pinot Noir. They first made it in 2008 (??) when the grapes were all smoke tainted, so they vinified all their PN as rosé to minimize skin contact.

[Jenise]

I used to purchase a case of the Navarro rose of pinot every year. What I found over time is that though I didn't love all vintages equally at the getgo, over time each came into its own eventually, maybe another year or even two in the cellar. I no longer go thru wine at the same rate so am not still doing this, but I still have some from my last purchase. Might be '21 or '22. They're remarkable, especially for the price.

I used to purchase a case of the Navarro every year. What I found over time is that though I didn't love all vintages equally at the getgo, over time each came into its own eventually, maybe another year or even two in the cellar. I no longer go thru wine at the same rate so am not still doing this, but I still have some from my last purchase. Might be '21 or '22. They're remarkable, especially for the price.

We have a sentimental attachment to their wines as it was their mid-'80s Pinot Noirs that my wife fell in love with (dining late nights at the Chez Panisse cafe, one of the few Berkeley restaurants open past 10 pm -- quel dommage!). These days, their Pinot Noirs don't do it for us, but their Pinot Blanc, Dry Gewurztraminer and sparkling wine still appeal to us.