Connecticut Lobster Rolls, Canned Lobster Bisque, and a 2019 Henry Fessy 'Maître Bonhome' Viré-Clessé #Winophiles

This month the French Winophiles group is looking at affordable wines from Burgundy.  Host Cindy of Grape Experiences wrote: "Burgundy, or Bourgogne, is known for its wines of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir... as well as Aligote, Gamay, Sauvignon, César, Pinot Beurot, Sacy, Melon in lesser quantities. Many of the well-known wines are quite expensive, but there are plenty of values to be found." Read her invitation here. And there won't be a Twitter chat for this event, so you will have to dive into the articles themselves to read about our pairings and findings. Here's the line-up...

• Wendy Klik from A Day in the Life on the Farm enjoys Domaine Chevillon Chezeaux Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits, 2018 Paired with a Maple Pecan Chicken.
• Camilla Mann from Culinary Adventures with Camilla shares her love of Connecticut Lobster Rolls, Canned Lobster Bisque, and a 2019 Henry Fessy 'Maître Bonhome' Viré-Clessé.
• Jeff Burrows of FoodWineClick! explains why we should Look the Other Way for Affordable Bourgogne.
• Gwendolyn Lawrence Alley from Wine Predator enjoys 2 for $25: Budget Bourgogne Bubbles and Gamay Paired with Baked Camembert and Wine Harvester’s Chicken.
• Cindy Rynning at Grape Experiences goes Back to Bourgogne with Louis Jadot Santenay “Clos de Malte” 2018.

Other Pairings

Back in January 2016, the #Winophiles did a look at Burgundy and I poured a bottle from Trader Joe's. I didn't note the retail price of that bottle, but I guarantee it was affordable. Not many wines at Trader Joe's go for higher than $40 and most are less than $20! In any case, I shared Cod Grenobloise + a Louis Jadot Chardonnay.

In July 2020, I posted Halibut à la Barigoule, and Prosper Maufoux Bourgogne Chardonnay. A quick search shows that the current vintage of that bottle clock in under $20 as well.

December 2020 had the #Winophiles posting about 'tied houses' when we compared wines made with Burgundy grapes that were made in Oregon! For that, I shared Galette au Chou + 2017 Résonance Pinot Noir.

In My Glass

Clearly Chardonnay rules the roost when it comes to 'Affordable Bourgnone' or, at the very least, it's easily accessible for me here on California's central coast. So, sourcing a bottle for this event led me down the same path. I got my hands on a bottle of 2019 Henry Fessy 'Maître Bonhome' Viré-Clessé. The retail price hovers around the $20 mark. I found a bottle of $19 and another for $23. 

Viré-Clessé is a relatively new appellation in the upper half of the Mâconnais region of southern Burgundy. Henry Fessy and his father-in-law, Jean Pelissier, joined forces with the mission to create excellent wines on a parcel in Brouilly. During the latter part of the 20th century, their sons and grandsons expanded beyond Brouilly. In 2008, the acquired Maison Louis Latour in Burgundy.

The 2019 Henry Fessy 'Maître Bonhome' Viré-Clessé pours a lovely pale straw color. On the nose there are aromas of ripe peaches, limestone, and lemon verbena. On the palate, the full-bodied wine was balanced with creamy browned butter layers and the sweetness of quince paste.

On My Plate and In My Bowl

To go with my affordable Bourgnone, I doctored up some canned lobster bisque and made Connecticut Lobster Rolls. Read my recipe here.

That's a wrap on my offering for the November #Winophiles. We will be wrapping up the year with an exploration of Champagne with Jeff of FoodWineClick! leading the discussion. Stay tuned!