Category Archives: Tasting Notes

Marchesi Antinori Santa Critina Rosso, Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy

Santa Cristina Toscana IGT

Appellation: Toscana IGT

 

Blend: 90% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot

 

Vintage: 2016

 

Tasting note: The 2016 Santa Cristina Rosso shows a ruby red color with purple highlights. On the nose, delicate notes of cherries and ripe red fruit, typical of Sangiovese and Syrah, mingle with the characteristic balsamic sensations of Merlot. The palate is ample and supple and the finish and aftertaste are fruity.

Ginestet French Roots Sauvignon Blanc, Vin de Pays Côtes de Gascogne, Gascony, France

Ginestet French Roots Sauvignon Blanc

Appellation: Vin de Pays Côtes de Gascogne

 

Blend: 100 % Sauvignon Blanc

 

Tasting note: French Roots Sauvignon is a fresh and explosive wine. The nose offers beautiful citrus aromas. The mouth is well-balanced, giving length and freshness. Enjoy this Sauvignon simply as a pre-dinner drink or with fish, creamy pasta and seafood.

Ginestet French Roots Merlot, Vin de Pays d’Oc, Languedoc-Rousillon, France

Ginestet French Roots Merlot

Appellation: Vin de Pays d’Oc

 

Blend: 100% Merlot

 

Tasting note: With its deep and intense colour, French Roots Merlot gives a nose of ripe soft fruits. It is round and well-balanced with silky tannins and is finished with a pleasant note of freshness. This unctuous Merlot is the ideal accompaniment to pastas and a wide variety of cheeses.

Robert Giraud Chateau Tonneret Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France

Chateau Tonneret Saint-Emilion

Appellation: Saint-Emilion AOC

 

Blend: 100% Merlot

 

Tasting note: Château Tonneret has a fine nose, immensely appealing wine with an intense purple colour. The powerful bouquet is quite fruity (red fruit and candied fruit) with added hints of animal and menthol. Hearty and well structured, Château Tonneret is especially attractive due to its long, fruity aftertaste development on the palate.

Robert Giraud “Cépages’’ Chardonnay-Colombard, Vin de Pays Côtes de Gascogne, Gascony, France

Robert Giraud Chardonnay-Colombard

Appellation: VDP Côtes de Gascogne

 

Blend: 50 % Chardonnay

50 % Colombard

 

Tasting note: Chardonnay has a rich bouquet, with hints of very ripe fruit (apple, banana and pear) and lime-blossom, typical of this grape variety. A suggestion of honey shows that this wine comes from a warm region. This rich, full-bodied, wine has a beautiful honeyed aftertaste. This Chardonnay is smooth, elegant and powerful. It reflects the fine winegrowing soil and warm sunshine. The grapes are harvested before they become over-ripe to ensure that the wine has finesse and a fine bouquet

Robert Giraud ‘‘Cépages’’ Merlot Vin de Pays d’Oc, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Robert Giraud merlot

Appellation: Vin de pays d’Oc

 

Blend: 100% Merlot

 

Tasting note: Merlot from the Languedoc has a somewhat simpler bouquet than the Syrah. It is quite full with lots of rich, ripe, red fruit and is very similar to other grape varieties grown in the region. The climate obviously has a strong effect on Merlot grapes. There is an indescribable aroma of herbs typical of the garrigue, of local scrubland, as well as a hint of oriental spices.

This extremely vinous wine is well-balanced, intense and fruity on the palate, with hints of prunes. It is well-balanced and round. The tannins are soft and finely-textured and there is a delicious spicy aftertaste.

Ginestet Lussac-St. Emilion, Bordeaux, France

Ginestet Saint Emilion

Appellation: St. Emilion, Bordeaux, France

 

Blend: Merlot 70%

Cabernet Sauvignon 25%

Cabernet Franc 5%

 

Vintage: aaaa

 

Tasting note: A very classy Claret nose leads on to a ripe, flavoursome Merlot palate, smooth with a surprisingly long finish for a wine at this level. Fantastic with a classic Sunday roast and also good with lamb dishes.

Château de Parenchère Cuvée Raphaël, Bordeaux, France

Chateau de Parenchere Cuvee Raphael

Appellation: Bordeaux Supérieur

 

Blend: 50% Merlot

50% Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Tasting note: The Cuvée Raphaël is always a very dense, very concentrated wine with elegant tannins that stand out, but are mellow and smooth. They are elegantly woody, but not excessively to leave plenty of room for the fruit.

Château de Parenchère Bordeaux Blanc Sec, Bordeaux, France

Chateau de parenchere bordeaux white

Appellation: Bordeaux Blanc AOC

 

Blend: 70% Sauvignon

20% Semillon

10% Muscadelle

 

Tasting note: The Sauvignon produces aromatic strength and freshness, while the Semillon complements this with a certain degree of roundness on the palate. The Muscadelle adds intense white flower notes to the aromatic range of the finished wine.

All in all, a white wine with intense white and citrus fruit aromas, which is both fresh and round on the palate.

Château de Parenchère Bordeaux Clairet, Bordeaux, France

Chateau de parenchere bordeaux clairet

Appellation: Grand Vin de Bordeaux

 

Blend: 50% Merlot

 40% Cabernet Sauvignon

9% Cabernet Franc

1% Malbec

 

Tasting note: The Bordeaux Clairet is particularly aromatic and has a very deep red fruit colour. It is also more substantial than traditional rosés, with good body and exuberant fruitiness, which comes the wine being produced from the musts run off just after vatting begins (called saignée)