Producer: The Domaine Brusset is a three-generation owned winery dating back to 1947.   The three different winemakers over these many years produce wines based on the classic southern varietals of Grenache and Mourvèdre grown in the shadow of Mont Ventoux, the mountain that dominates Provencal landscape.  These are grapes that epitomize the region creating rustic, chewy and full-bodied wines showcasing flavors of the area: lavender, rosemary, and thyme, and what is known as garrigue, a catchall term that describes these combination of flavors and earth that finds its way into the wine.  Other wines in the area with fancier names (and bigger entry fees) like Gigondas or Chateauneuf de Pape are known for their heady aromas and powerful garrigue flavors. 

Wine Composition:  (exact not known) Grenache and Mourvedre with Clairette and Carignan

Review (Spirited Gourmet):
The Brusset blends Grenache and Mourvedre with Clairette and Carignan creating an inky purple wine with dizzying spicy aromatics, oodles of black raspberries, cassis, and black truffles.  One would think with all these flavors, the wine would be short on structure, what we call a fruit bomb, but don't forget this wine is French, so it will always have a forthright backbone.  A very versatile wine, enjoy it with all kinds of yummy foods like cassoulet, ribs, epanadas or some Raclette or Morbier cheese..

Review (Kirti): Picked up these and Erskine mentioned that this is a fairly popular wine. I was not sure I remembered why I ordered this. I had no plans to really open this wine, but this evening, I find myself at the loose end of simply chilling out at home. So, why not! This wine fills the nose and brain with really ripe raspberries and earthy spiciness. It is smooth, real smooth ends with being slightly dry side. When I read the description again, yeah…. Earthy truffles and provence spices - lavender, rosemary…. Very very yummy. For the price this wine is simply fantastic buy.

Cost: $10.50/bottle

Producer: Domaine Fleith-Eschard (Ingersheim near Colmar)
Owner: Vincent and Rene Fleith-Eschard

Wine Composition: 100% Riesling

Review (Cynthia Hurley):
This is a dry, delicious, fruit-driven, minerally Alsatian white. This is not a sweet wine and there is no residual sugar left behind in the fermentation. It is a stunning (dry) wine experience

Wine pairing (suggested):
Avocados and scallops come to mind. Lime, garlic, and coriander. Curried, smoked and grilled salmon. Don't forget the asparagus and mushrooms. Pork. Yes, pork with cream and apples. And, of course, duck.

My Notes: Beautiful, clean and clear light yellow (mostly straw) colored wine. Aromas make you feel this may be a tad heavy wine despite the color. Let it sit for about 10-15 mins and you can smell the grapefruits and minerals. Sipping it all the impressions that this may be  heavy and sweet give way to light, dry and citrusy feel. Lucky me have six bottles of these.

Cost: $24.99/bottle

Site by Rene Fleith-Eschard (completely in french)