Category Archives: France

Domaine Faiveley Pommard “Les Vaumuriens”, Burgundy, France

Domaine Faiveley Pommard

The village of Pommard neighbours Beaune and is one of the most reputed winemaking villages in the Côte de Beaune. The vineyards are steeped in history and have long enjoyed a reputation for outstanding quality.

Grape Variety

Pinot Noir

WINEMAKING

The grapes are cut harvested and sorted by hand. The proportion of de-stemmed grapes and whole clusters varies depending on the vintage. The wines are punched down daily in order to extract colour, tannins and aromas from the skin of the grapes. After a 19 day vatting period, the alcoholic fermentation is complete. The free-run wine is run off using a gravity system whilst the marc is pressed slowly and gently in order to extract an exceptionally pure press wine. The wines are aged for 12 months in French oak barrels (20-30% new oak) which have been selected for their fine grain and moderate toast. The wines are left to age in our hygrometry-controlled cellars at consistent, natural temperatures. The wines spend 2 months in vats at the end of the ageing process.

TASTING

This wine reveals an attractive deep ruby red hue. The nose exudes aromas of black fruit and spice combined with oaky notes and a touch of spice. The attack offers a powerful structure with direct tannins underpinned by delicate oaky notes. This wine’s excellent structure and aromatic persistency give it good potential for bottle age.

Serve at 14°C to 16°C

Cellaring Potential 5 to 8 years

Domaine Faiveley Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy, France

Domaine Faiveley Gevrey Chambertin

APPELLATION DESCRIPTION

By royal ordinance from Louis-Philippe, the name “Chambertin” was added to the name of the village and it officially became “Gevrey-Chambertin” in 1847. Our parcel selection of old vines aged over 35 years old produces an exceptionally intense and aromatic wine.

Exposition: East, South-east

SoilClay marls with a high iron content

Grape Variety

Pinot Noir

WINEMAKING

The grapes are harvested and sorted by hand. The proportion of de-stemmed grapes and whole clusters varies depending on the vintage. The wines are punched down daily in order to extract colour, tannins and aromas from the skin of the grapes. After a 19 day vatting period, the alcoholic fermentation is complete. The free-run wine is run off using a gravity system whilst the marc is pressed slowly and gently in order to extract an exceptionally pure press wine. The wines are aged for 14 months in French oak barrels (20-30% new oak) which have been selected for their fine grain and moderate toast. The wines are left to age in our hygrometry-controlled cellars at consistent, natural temperatures.The wines are aged in vats for 2 months at the end of the ageing process.

TASTING

Our old vines are over 35 years old and produce an exceptionally intense and aromatic wine  that reflects the unique character of its terroir. With its deep, clear ruby red hue, it reveals notes of black fruits and excellent strength and concentration. As with all Gevrey-Chambertin, it requires a few years of patience before reaching its full potential.

Serve at 14°C to 16°C

Cellaring Potential 4 to 6 years

 

Domaine Hamelin Chablis, Burgundy, France

Domaine Hamelin Chablis

This wine is made from grapes from the plots next to the ‘premier crus’. It has the same elegance and bouquet as the premier crus, but to a lesser degree. Dry and fruity, this is a clear and light wine with aromas and flavour that develop rapidly.

It can easily be kept for 5 to 8 years.

Tasting notes:

Colour: vivid yellow with a hint of green.

Nose: still discreet with a touch of hawthorn blossom and freshness.

Palate: round, fresh and mineral. It has good length and a powerful finish.

The Chablis is served chilled (10 to 12°C) with oysters, seafood, charcuterie pâtés and deli meats, pork dishes or snails. It also goes well with goats’ cheeses and gruyere cheese.

Château d’Esclans Rock Angel Provence Rosé, Provence, France

Rock Angel provence rose

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grapes : grown from Château d’Esclans vineyards, consisting primarily of Grenache and Rolle.

Vinification: Harvesting at sunrise to noon

Grapes are sorted by optical eye electronically and manually three times.

No maceration, free run and pressed juice partially vinified in demi-muids and stainless steel, both temperature controlled.

Tasting notes: Open-knit, featuring a fun ball of white cherry and peach fruit flavours, lined with a subtle verbena note. Breezy finish.

Château d’Esclans Whispering Angel Provence Rosé, Provence, France

Whispering angel provence rose

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grapes: grown on choice land in surrounding region of La Motte en Provence, consisting primarily of Grenache, Cinsault, Rolle, Syrah, and Tibouren.

Vinification: Harvesting at sunrise to noon.

Optical Grape sorting

Destemming and slight crushing at 7-8 degrees Celsius to avoid oxidation.

Both, free run juice and pressed juices are vinified in stainless steel.

Tasting notes: A fresh, juicy, and flattering rosé, offering white cherry and raspberry fruit laced with bright acidity and backed by a streak of talc detail on the finish for spine.

Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2011, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux – France

Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2011, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux – France

About– In 1682, the Lazarist Fathers, a community founded by Saint Vincent de Paul, received the estate as a legacy from Madame Olive de Lestonnac. The monks worked hard for over a century to restore the estate to its former glory. Subsequent owners – a series of illustrious families – followed their example, up to and including the purchase by Domaine Clarence Dillon in1983. The owner of La Mission also own Château Haut-Brion which is a First Growth.

Blend/Grape Varietal– 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc.

Tasting Notes– The 2011 is a big, sexy, smoky, classic La Mission displaying lots of road tar, graphite, barbecue, meats, mulberry, black currant and blueberry notes. It is full-bodied with sweet tannin as well as an expansive, fleshy style.

Château Bernadotte 2011 Haut Medoc, Bordeaux – France

Château Bernadotte 2011 Haut Medoc, Bordeaux – France

About– Château Bernadotte in Saint Sauveur, close to Pauillac and just beyond Saint- Estèphe, is a 30-hectare vineyard owned at this time by Château Pichon-Lalande, which is in turn owned by Louis Roederer Champagne who acquired both in 2007. The château was built in 1860 and named after Maréchal Bernadotte, then restored in 1989 by its previous Swedish owners.

Blend/Grape Varietal– 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot.

Tasting Notes– The wine reveals a supple and ample attack. The palate offers a lush fruit as well as much silk, followed by an important tannic richness.

Domaine Taupenot-Merme Mazoyères-Chambertin 2002, Côte de Nuits, Burgundy – France

Domaine Taupenot-Merme Mazoyères-Chambertin 2002, Côte de Nuits, Burgundy – France

About– There is a long history of viticulture in the Taupenot family and Romain Taupenot, who runs this fantastic estate. Romain describes himself as a ‘terroirist’ and he is not one to adulterate his fruit who keeps the use of new oak to sensible levels.

Blend/Grape Varietal – 100% Pinot Noir

Tasting Notes –  There is deceptive depth and structure here as it is not a massive wine but is certainly concentrated and long with lots more to come.

Domaine Virely-Arcelain ‘Les Arvelets’ Pommard 1er Cru 1991, Côte de Baune, Burgundy- France

Domaine Virely-Arcelain ‘Les Arvelets’ Pommard 1er Cru 1991, Côte de Baune, Burgundy- France 

About– The modest and small sized village of Pommard takes its name from "Pomone" goddess of fruits and gardens. The Domaine has 14 plots, most of which are in Pommard, 100% family owned, ranging from 15 to 112 acres, producing a wide array of richly flavoured wines.

Blend/Grape Varietal– 100% Pinot Noir

Tasting Notes– Very complex with a glimpse of remaining fruit.

Domaine Peyre Rose Clos des Cistes 2003 Coteaux du Languedoc- France

Domaine Peyre Rose Clos des Cistes 2003 Coteaux du Languedoc- France

About– One of the Languedoc’s brightest stars is Domaine Peyre Rose. The wines have been rightly lauded all over the world by critics, sommeliers and collectors alike.

Blend/Grape Varietal– 85% Shiraz, 15% Grenache

Tasting Notes– A big mouthful of a wine, the 2003 Languedoc Clos de Cistes shows the warmth of the vintage with its exuberant, fruit loaded personality. Currants, roasted meats, plum, licorice and underbrush all give way to a full-bodied, hedonistic and sexy Languedoc that has a stacked mid-palate, no hard edges and a clean finish.