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Domaine de Cassan Cotes du Rhone Blanc and Summer Peach and Heirloom Tomato Chopped Salad
by Christel Stiver
As the days seem to disappear into darkness much quicker than they should, I savor the final moments of summer with a refreshing white wine, one, however, with more body, richness and flavor and still with the capacity to complement food. These demands might seem high, but there is a wine that will meet my needs--Cotes du Rhone Blanc. These white gems from the southern Rhone Valley of France attract me based on their luscious aromas and flavors of bright stone fruits meddled with trace mineral elements, encompassed by a creamy body and silky texture— tough to resist!
Featured with great success in the past for their Beaumes de Venise Rouge, Gerard Paillet of Domaine de Cassan also produces a sheer example of white Cotes du Rhone. The Domaine was founded in 1970 by Paillet's father-in-law who originally purchased the vineyard and built the wine cellar. Paillet took over with the 1996 harvest, and altered the wines from light and pure, to richer and more powerful, yet maintaining an essence of elegance.
The vineyards of Domaine de Cassan occupy one of the most beautiful vineyard settings in the Dentelles de Montmirail nature reserve in the hills above the medieval village of Gigondas in the Southern Rhone. While a number of varietals are permitted in Cotes du Rhone wines, the Domaine de Cassan uses only four--Grenache blanc, Roussanne, Clairette, and Viognier—to create their charming white wine. Grown on slopes of chalky and clay soils the grapes are individually hand harvested from 10-year-old vines, before fermentation and aging in barriques, which adds to the rich creamy texture of the wine.
To fully savor this wine as a cap to summer, I enjoyed it with a big chopped salad that incorporates the best of thriving summer produce. Because of the stone fruits in the wine I added fresh peaches to my chopped salad. (Pears would also be great). The Cassan Cotes du Rhone 2006 exudes pure aromas of cut pear, fresh apricot and mineral with hints of honey and sweet creamy fruit and almond on the palate. The fresh fruit and mineral complement the crisp salad and creamy body of the wine help to keep all the components in harmony. The Domaine de Cassan Cotes du Rhone Blanc, with its shiny summer flavors, is your incentive to savor another summer night!
Summer Peach and Heirloom Tomato Chopped Salad
Salad
1 head of romaine, finely shredded or chopped
½ head butter leaf or Bibb lettuce, chopped
2 Peaches, thinly sliced
2 Medium Heirloom Tomatoes of choice, chopped
2 eggs, hard-boiled, chopped
2 Tablespoons dried Cranberries
¼ cup Pine nuts, toasted
4 strips of crispy Bacon, chopped
1 avocado, diced
4 oz Pt. Reyes blue cheese, crumbled
1 tablespoon each of fresh mint and basil, shredded
1 Rotisserie Chicken, meat pulled (Optional)
Red Wine Vinaigrette
1 medium shallot, thinly sliced
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon dried thyme
4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
salt and pepper to taste
For the Vinaigrette:
In a medium bowl add together the vinegar, thyme, mustard, honey, shallots. Slowly stream in the olive oil. Whisk until thick. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
For the Salad:
Place the romaine and butter lettuce inside a large serving bowl. Toss together with the mint and basil. Add the peaches, tomatoes, egg, cranberries, pine nuts, bacon and chicken if using. Mix together thoroughly. Add the avocado and blue cheese before serving. Toss the vinaigrette over the salad when you are ready to serve.
