In anticipation of what promises to be an epic trip to Bordeaux in a few days, I decided to whip up a small taste of France with a comfort-food recipe and a few pours of wine. Specifically, I opened a bottle (sent as a sample) of G d’Estournel 2020 ($37) from St. Estèphe in the Medoc for pairing with a savory French Cheese Toastie, a popular dish found in Parisian cafes and country kitchens. Quiet luxury? Absolutely. This humble yet indulgent combination transformed my late afternoon snack into something quite special.
Some may say that the French Cheese Toastie is really a grilled cheese sandwich, and that would be absolutely correct. But this sandwich on sourdough bread with creamy Mimolette and Comte PDO cheeses, mushrooms, onions, garlic, and brown sugar is a French iteration that wins the Grand Prize! You can find the mouthwatering recipe HERE.
Photo Credit: Taste of France
And the wine? Cabernet Sauvignon dominant wines from St. Estèphe are characterized by robust, rustic, and powerful elements. As the most northern commune in the Medoc on the Left Bank of the Gironde River, soils of St. Estèphe are a deep layer of limestone and clay under gravel.
Cos d’Estournel, a Second growth chateau, is found on the hill of Saint Estèphe, just north of the Medoc and across a small stream from First Growth, Chateau Lafite. It is considered a “Super Second” that produces extremely high quality wines on the Left Bank. Found on the edge of a plateau and close to the Gironde estuary, a superior location, the chateau vineyards enjoy a maritime climate and protection from inclement weather.
Photo Credit: Cos d’Estournel
Chilled slightly then opened, Goulee by Cos d’Estournel has been renamed G d’Estournel for the 2020 vintage and it boasts the same winemaking skill and precise standards of other wines from the vintage. This elegant, complex blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot shines a light on the area. Truly exceptional, I found bold and savory aromas of sage, bramble, ripe plums, and minerality. On the palate, expressive, integrated notes of rich red fruit, juicy red berries, eucalyptus, hint of chocolate, and breezy salinity were placed on a foundation of vibrant acidity and tannic structure. Balanced with a lingering finish, G d’Estournel 2020 is a well priced, high quality snapshot of St. Estèphe.
With the rich and creamy French Cheese Toastie, intense flavor sensations of the mushrooms, cheeses, garlic, brown sugar, and onion were a brilliant contrast and complement to the dynamic, robust wine rife with acid and tannins. Within seconds, I was whisked away to a cozy bistro on a side street of Bordeaux without ever leaving home! Ahhh, the simple pleasures of life.
Now, my Bordeaux packing list in finished, I’m ready to check in for the flight, and soon will be off to France for relaxation, wine, food, and more. Trust me, you’ll be reading about many of my discoveries.
Cheers! ~ Cindy
Photo Credit: Lost in Bordeaux
