WBTG at Suzette’s Creperie Wheaton

 WBTG at Suzette’s Creperie Wheaton 

For an impromptu casual lunch, we dined at Suzette’s Creperie, Wheaton (IL), one of our favorite dining spots in the western suburbs. 

We enjoyed two of our favorite preparations - I love their Sole preparation and Linda their Crab Cakes. 

We’ve written about Suzette’s and these entree choices numerous times in these pages - 

Fun lunch at Suzette’s Crêperie Wheaton

Signorello Hope's Cuvee BYOB at Suzette's Creperie Wheaton

Suzette's Creperie Wheaton

French Wine Dinner Al Fresco at Suzettes Creperie Wheaton

We both selected a white wine accompaniment from the WBTG selections list, Linda a French Chardonnay from the south of France, Languedoc-Roussillon region, and me a Graves Bordeaux. 

Domaine De Montrose Languedoc- Roussillon Côtes de Thongue Chardonnay 2024 

Domaine Montrose is a historic family run producer that dates back to 1701 when Joseph Alazard received his ‘Three Lizards’ coat of arms which continues to this day as part of the family crest in homage to him, it adorns all of bottles’ and labels to this day.

The estate has belonged to and been managed by the Coste family nine generations. Current proprietor, Bernard Coste is the 8th generation in charge of Domaine Montrose and his son Olivier joined him in 2009, continuing the heritage of 300 years producing wine.

Bernard and Olivier Coste both live on the estate which consists of just under 200 acres of vines, situated around the estate.  The vineyards around the winery are planted on a range of rather unusual terroirs with clay-limestone balanced soils. The estate is named after its location, on a volcano (mont) and after the pink-blossomed (rose) almond trees bordering the property. 

Domaine Montrose is located in the South of France, a few kilometers from the village of Pézenas and the Mediterranean Sea in the Côtes de Thongue  (IGP) wine appellation, in the Languedoc- Roussillon wine region, and the sub region of Herault.

The small Côtes de Thongue appellation is made up of about fifty producers. Interestingly, the producers of this wine appellation have declined the official AOC certification in order to ensure their freedom to produce wines of their liking. 

The appellation has a Mediterranean climate: cold and dry winter, hot and dry summer, humid spring and fall. Montrose vines are grown on soils that are typical for this appellation: Villafranchian terraces (small round pebbles), clay-limestone, and basalt.

Committed to protecting the biodiversity of its vineyards, they have planted 21 different species of Mediterranean trees and now have 1,053 trees on the property. These trees and their ecosystem help the healthy management of the vineyards.

Domaine Montrose and its surroundings have been inhabited for millennia, dating back to Roman occupation when it was likely a Roman villa. The historic “Valros Tower” next to the vineyard was a Carolingian necropolis and then a stronghold in the Middle Ages.

Wine has been made at Montrose since the 16th century. Aged underground tanks still exist beneath the wine cellar.. 

The primary wine produced by the family is Rosé. They also produce this 100% Chardonnay, a unique blend sourced from their three terroirs, Villa Franchian terrasses with small round pebbles, sandy clay, and volcanic soils naturally poor in nutrients, which are typical of the appellation, planted on the slope of a volcano. The assortment of terroirs gives their wines a unique personality.

Each terroir is vinified separately. Grapes are destemmed before a short skin contact or a direct pressing. Wines resulting from the different terroirs are blended after fermentation and then aged in stainless steel vats rather than oak barrels to preserve freshness, fruit and minerality, and achieve a distinctive balance and elegance they seek in their unique style.

Winemaker’s notes - yellow color with green hints. Nose of fresh fruit. Notes of citrus and white peach. Elegant wine combining roundness and freshness. 

This was pale golden straw colored, light medium bodied, with crisp, clean, expressive notes of peach, pear and citrus with lively acidity. 

RM 90 points.  

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?5381585

https://domaine-montrose.com/en/over-the-century/

http://suzettescreperie.com/index.html

Château Millet Henri’s Cuvee 2024  

Château Millet is one of the premiere domaines and brands of the Domaines de La Mette, a collection of chateaux comprised of 150 acres of vines in the Graves and 50 acres in the Bordeaux Supérieur appellations. 

The Château Millet estate is located 20 kms southeast along the Gironde River of the City of Bordeaux, just outside the village of Portets. The Château Millet chateau was re-built in the late 19th Century on the foundations of a Medieval castle. 

Today, the chateau and vineyards are managed by Thierry de La Mette and Jean-Batiste Solorzano, who manages the day-to-day operations of Domaines de La Mette. 

Chateau Millet’s 35 acres of vines are planted on the gravelly soil of a clay and limestone plateau overlooking the Garonne River, planted primarily in red Bordeaux varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Carménère that produce red wines that are elegant yet flavorful, the hallmark of Graves wines. 

The remaining 2 1/2 acres which face south on ideal limestone soil are planted to white grape varietals, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris and Semillon. The southern exposure ensures an excellent maturity for these delicate grapes, giving them the signature style and taste that has made Graves wines famous. 

This label, Chateau Millet Graves Blanc “Cuvée Henri”, is named in homage to Thierry’s late father, Henri de La Mette. 

The wine is a blend of fifty percent Sauvignon Blanc, forty percent Semillon and ten percent Sauvignon Gris; with the age of the vines between fifteen to thirty years. 

 The wine undergoes fermentation in Stainless Steel vats and then is aged in French Oak, of which a third is new, for six months. 

Winemaker/Distributors’s Tasting Notes - “  The pale-straw-yellow colored wine offered notes of white fruits, melon and vanilla. On the palate this light-to- medium bodied, well-balanced wine displayed tones of fruit and citrus in a supple texture that ended with medium-count finish of fruit and terroir. The suppleness, the fruit and floral aromas of this wine are all invitations to the pleasures of the connoisseur's palate. The nose has hints of sweet spices, with a touch of vanilla. Elegant and unctuous on the palate, supported by refreshing acidity. The finish reveals notes of white pepper and cloves.”

https://go.cellartracker.com/wine/5440006