Had a delightful evening in Angers at two amazing drinking venues: Cercle Rouge and Barco Vino. Cercle Rouge is a natural wine bar operated by Joseph Mosse, who comes from the renowned Mosse wine family, while Barco Vino offers a charming atmosphere aboard a boat.
Both locations boast incredible wine lists, which we thoroughly explored. Notable wines we enjoyed included:
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Mosse Aïda 2023 Vin de France (11% alcohol): A recently replanted vineyard, this wine features pear and lemon flavors combined with fine spices and a stony edge. It earned a score of 94/100 due to its appealing grainy and salty nuances.
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Catherine & Pierre Breton Vouvray Bois Guyon 2019 (14% alcohol): This off-dry wine is rich and textural, bursting with sweet fruit and bottled with a crown cap for safety against refermentation. It received a rating of 92/100.
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Dominique Belluard Gringet Eponyme 2020 (12% alcohol): A beautiful expression of Gringet, this intensely salty and spicy wine is concentrated with fine detail, leading to a score of 95/100.
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Guiberteau Clos de Guichaux Monopole Bizay 2018: Crystalline and focused, this wine highlights stony minerals alongside lemon and pear, as well as a touch of aniseed, also scoring 95/100.
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Lapierre Morgon 2021 (S cuvée): With added sulfites, this silky wine features bold fruit depth with ripe strawberries and cherries, earning a commendable 94/100.
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Clau de Nell Grolleau 2020: While typically not what is expected from Grolleau, this wine is firm and concentrated, polished with notes of tapenade and spice, scoring 94/100.
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Maxime Mignon Métisse 2021: This pale red wine showcases strawberries and cherries, coupled with sweet rhubarb and spice. It offers a fine, sleek profile, scoring 94/100.
For more details on these venues, check out Barco Vino and Cercle Rouge.