By Jamie Drummond

2009 Domaine Lafage “Côté Est” VDP des Côte Catalanes, France (LCBO General List# 179838) $13.10
It’s not often that I utilise the old “liquid sunshine in a bottle” cliché, but this bottling from Domaine Lafage forces me into journalistic submission. Hailing from the Roussillon in the SW of France, with vineyards perched on the Spanish border, Domaine Lafage’s “Côté Est” delivers enough flavour to banish any trace of the winter blues. This delightfully accessible Roussillonais is composed of 60% Grenache Blanc, 30% Chardonnay, and 10% Marsanne, all tank fermented, with nary a trace of oak. Some time on lees augments the wine’s natural richness and ripeness with a considerable textural quality, but the wine is complete and balanced, being pulled into line by a healthy acid component, no doubt something to do with the north-facing high altitude vineyards. Aromatically the wine is all about ripe, luscious, juicy fruit with just a whiff of the floral. Think peaches, cantaloupe, and honeysuckle. Exhibiting terrific value at just over $13, this is certainly one of my favourite General List offerings. Pair with someone you’d like to get to know a little better…

Edinburgh-born/Toronto-based Sommelier, consultant, writer, judge and educator Jamie Drummond is the Director of Programs/Editor of Good Food Revolution… and this wine makes him long for the Spring to finally arrive.