WTN: Pronounce This

Domaine Filliatreau 2002 Saumur Chateau Fouquet , $8
Nice red berry aromas and flavors accented by smoke, earth and herbs. Nice acidity, bright fruit, quite smooth. Excellent match with pesto. The next day, it’s just as delightful; bright, complex fruit with smoke, earth and herbs. Importer: Louis/Dressner.

Now for my question: Is the domaine pronounced “Fee-yee-ah-troe ?” Or something completely different?

G.D. Vajra 2000 Dolcetto d'Alba Coste & Fossati, $17
Fairly intense plum, blueberry and blackberry fruit accented by dark earth and lots of minerals on the nose and palate. Low-acidity, fairly smooth but some tannins still remain. I wish there was more acidity, but I know this is a frequent trait of dolcetti. Still, it went very well with linguine in a shrimp and tomato sauce. Importer: Country Vintner.

Same question, different language: Is it Veye-rah? Vahj-rah? Or something else?

[Robin Garr]

Now for my question: Is the domaine pronounced “Fee-yee-ah-troe ?” Or something completely different?

I'd say that's close, Bruce. I'm never quite sure when the L is sounded in a French double-l combination, but I don't think your rendition would embarrass you if you uttered it in a tasting room.

Same question, different language: Is it Veye-rah? Vahj-rah? Or something else?

Guessing again - 'j' isn't common in Italian, and generally shows up in words borrowed from other languages, but I'd go with "Veye-rah," assuming that you're using "eye" as the English word for the organ of vision.

Thanks, Robin.

I'm never quite sure when the L is sounded in a French double-l combination

I always assume two Ls together equals a "Y" -- that's true of Spanish as well, I believe -- but I'm not sure whether there are exceptions in French.

assuming that you're using "eye" as the English word for the organ of vision.

Indeed. Ewe are correct.

I believe the common pronunciation (in French) would probably be: feel-ya-trow.

While the double "l" is generally a "yuh" sound, the vowels that follow would negate this (feeyah-e-a-trow is unwieldly, I don't think anyone would say it that way).. Also, the double "l" is probably unnecessary in terms of pronunciation, just a leftover from a bygone period.

As this is a common name, there are no hard and fast rules... I thought you'd pronounce the "l", but asked my (French) secretary for her opinion. She agreed.


Best regards,
Alex R.

Thanks -- that makes sense given the French resistance to awkward sound constructions -- "feel-ya-trow" comes out much smoother on the tongue (not unlike the wine itself).

I'm glad you weren't asking for a pronounciation of "Fouquet" One slip and offence is guaranteed...

What the Fouquet are you talking about?

I'm glad you weren't asking for a pronounciation of "Fouquet" One slip and offence is guaranteed...

Then let's not go into talking about Pouilly-Fuisse when you've been seriously over-served.