I spent some quality time last weekend one of my favorite expats, Wendy Heinicken Gobbi, who a good while ago traded in life in the American corporate world for a grand adventure in France. Today, Wendy and her husband Jean-Marc, reside near Aix-en-Provence, where he founded and still presides over the acclaimed International Bilingual School, with students from 75 countries. She used to work there, too, but it seems running a winery — the Gobbis bought St. Pierre de Mejans near Loumarin in the Luberon in 2021 — that’s also a luxury boutique hotel and, now, a popular wedding venue is a fulltime job in its own right.
“So Jean-Marc fired me,” Wendy jokes.
A second property near the 12th-century chateau (shown above) that houses all of the above has recently been added to their holdings, giving them another 10 rooms to let in the not-too-distant future. I should also mention that Jean-Marc bought Aix’s professional team handball club last year. Alas, this hasn’t been a great first season and he recently fired his coach, which is what sports team owners do, right?
I told Wendy she might be in line to take over as general manager, but she demurred, saying, “I think I have the right job” overseeing St. Pierre de Mejans, which is expanding its vineyards and wine offerings. Recent additions include two new sparklers, one made from only clairette and the other a mostly cinsault pink blend.
At the winery, all sell for under 18 euros a bottle. In Houston, you can buy the 2021 “1118” Cotes du Luberon white blend and rosé for $22 and the 2019 “Vielles Vignes” Rouge for $33 at http://aoc.selections.com. The “1118”? That’s said to be the year the original castle was completed.
Wendy, who grew up in Kingwood before attending the University of Texas, was briefly back in Houston recently, lunching at Tony’s with her importer, Douglas Skopp of Dionysus Imports, and dining at Ruggles Black with her extended family, some 15 folks total. Both chef-owners, Kate McLean and Bruce Molzan respectively, tasted her wines and hopefully will add them to their lists.
Far be it from me to nag, though.
Parlez-vous Bordeaux?
The Alliance Francaise and http://thetexaswineschool.com are partnering up again for a wine seminar/tasting, this one featuring wines from Bordeaux presented by my great friend and Master somm Guy Stout, who will present 10 of his favorites — two whites and a mix of Right and Left Bank reds — from the famed region in Southwest France from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 23.
The price is $75. Don’t wait to register. The Wine School’s owner, Liz Palmer, has currently capped the class at 45 people. At our last tasting — I say “our” because I’m president of the Alliance’s board of directors — we had way more tasters show up than we expected. Suffice it to say we have refined the registration process. The address is 427 Lovett Blvd., two blocks east of Montrose.
Lots of wine (and food) in The Woodlands
The predictable expansive program for http://wineandfoodweek.com June 5-11 in The Woodlands will rock as usual, co-founder Constance McDerby promises, and be assured that Constance always delivers. This year’s theme is “Wine + Food = Art” with McDerby explaining: “Wine and food are like art because they express the culture, imagination and passion of the people who create them.”
In addition, Texas Monthly food writer Patricia Sharpe, whose tenure with the magazine spans almost five decades, will be a most deserving honoree. Tickets for all the fun stuff — there’s way too much to recount in detail here — can be purchased at the website.
Sippin’ with Sporty
White
2021 The Paring Sauvignon Blanc
From the winemaker: “Few Sauvignon Blanc wines this youthful can also boast this level of complexity. The nose is deliciously exotic, with lemon, melon and white peach soaring out of the glass. The wine’s laser beam of acidity refreshes and cleanses the palate, while its decadent texture demands another mouthwatering sip.
“From me: “What he said! Kudos to Matt Dees. This is the best sauvignon blanc I’ve tasted this year, and I’ve tasted a few.”
Red
2018 The Paring Red Blend
From the winemaker: “This Cabernet-inspired blend displays classic notes of cassis, tobacco and chocolate. Focused fruit and shapely tannins shine as hallmarks of what we’ve come to expect from the sandy soils and slightly cooler climate of the winery’s outstanding vineyard sites.
From Jeb Dunnuck: “It’s a medium to full-bodied, ripe, rounded, nicely concentrated blend with lots of ripe currant and blackberry fruits (plus) an herbal kick in its tobacco, earth, and ripe herb aromas and flavors. Ideal for drinking over the coming 5-7 years or more.”
From me: The Paring wines represent an intriguing counterpart to their better known siblings, JONATA and the Hilt, having been made with grapes primarily from vineyard blocks in Santa Ynez Valley, Sta. Rita Hills and Santa Maria Valley, Dees says, “that are either too young or don’t fit into the vintage style (of the aforementioned). The Paring is a cut of each estate. The Paring puts pedigree first, and then lets imagination take over.” Surprisingly given the neighborhood, it’s a Bordeaux-style blend with cabernet sauvignon making up 50 percent. Like the white, it’s a superb effort at this price point.
$25.99 at http://wine.com
Wagyu and Wine Night: 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, at R-C Ranch. $125. http://eventbrite.com
Wine Tasting Class — World of Whites: 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, at Crust Pizza Co. $5 http://eventbrite.com
Texas Wine Night: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 18, at JMP Wines Tasting Room, Humble. http://eventbrite.com
Nine and Wine — National Wine Day: 6 p.m. Thursday, May 25, at Riverhouse Houston. $30 http://eventbrite.com
Tolaini Tuscan Wine Dinner with Lia Tolaini-Banville: 6 p.m. Thursday, May 25, at the Rainbow Lodge. $165 plus tax and gratuity. https://www.rainbow-lodge.com/tolaini-wine-dinner
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Others to follow
Jeremy Parzen (http://dobianchi.com)
My podcast partner in crime has been on the road again — isn’t he always? — and raves about recent memorable meal at the famed Ballato’s on East Houston St. But he’ll be back in H-town for a Chianti Consorzio tasting he’s conducting Wednesday.
Sandra Crittenden (http://winelifehouston.com)
Sandra shares her latest story for Galveston Monthly, featuring wines she tasted recently in Paso Robles. She gets around, too.
Russ Kane (http://vintagetexas.com)
The Texas Wineslinger focuses on the Bingham Family Vineyards Trebbiano, tasted on a visit to the winery in Hye.
Jeff Kralick (http://thedrunkencyclist.com)
Jeff gives us the lowdown on the best samples (right, freebies) he has tasted through recently.
Katrina Rene (http://thecorkscrewconcierge.com)
Kat provides a rundown of Texas wine happenings in the merry month of May.
The Sporty Wine Guy 