Latest update : 13 March 2020.
The 2010 vintage still is a superb choice in the Rhone Valley. The long, warm indian summer fully ripened the grapes, a good basis for wines with remarkable finesse and harmony. The Grenache and Syrah grapes for this wine come from the vineyards of Roaix, situated between Rasteau and Vaison-la-Romaine. It fills the glass with a dark, blood red colour and the strong scent of figs and dried apricots, honey cake and licorice. My nose is immediately seduced, fascinated by the intensity of the (...)
continueLet’s save time on the colour of this pure Malbec. It is, of course, pitch black... What else?
On the other hand, the bouquet deserves a little more attention. Its freshness is striking, remaining autumn: forest floor, mushrooms, some dried fruit and sour cherry. Being “a true wine to age” and “wine of patience”, it takes its time to open up and would not mind a carafe, despite his advanced age. If you are without a carafe, I recommend to open the wine two to three hours before serving, so that (...)
The nose of this wine is very charming: Cherries and flowers, wild herbs and a hint of chocolate... Juicy and mineral on the palate, with elegant and powerful tannins, nestled in pleasant smoothness that flatters the palate. Structure and harmony of this wine are promising a good ageing potential for this wine, but its flavours and freshness will surely tempt you to taste it already now.
FOOD MATCHES FOR CARNIVORES:: Roast beef, Saddle of lamb with herb crust... But also Salsiccia with (...)
Opening a bottle of Vacqueyras always announces a special moment of enjoyment, as well as a delicious dinner. In a certain way the AOC Vacqueyras represents something noble, valuable and historical. Although classified Cru of the Rhone Valley “only” 25 years ago, the wines of Vacqueyras look back on a very long history and they are closely linked to the history of the great wines and terroirs of France. To accompany this wine, I had grilled duck breast provided by a refined figs duo: half (...)
continueDoes wine need more freedom? We do not have an answer yet. If we intervene as little as possible in the cellar, we nevertheless keep a close watch on our wines and the creation of our Cahors Extra Libre became possible only after years of preparation in the vineyards.
Being a free wine, the Cahors Extra Libre immediately shows its (black) colour. Wild berries, spices and pipe tobacco ... a seemingly indomitable bouquet. At ease in the glass, it quickly moderates its temper, showing more (...)
It almost seems a bit silly to point out that a wine comes up with aromas and taste of fresh grapes. Isn’t that obvious? Well, it’s not that obvious at all, because through maturity, vinification and aging certain wines may somehow drift away from the initial raw material. Thus, their bouquets suggest a big amount of fruits (peach, apricot, fig, banana ...), spices (cinnamon, vanilla, pepper, star anise ...) and even plants (fern, mint, hay ...), thus hiding the grapes.
This is not so in (...)
Last night I opened a bottle of Champagne Paul Lebrun Demi-sec. I felt like it. Usually rather a « brut » drinker, I admit that me, too, I sometimes need a little sweetness in my glass. That must be the romantic side of my palate ...
Shiny and golden, with very fine, creamy bubbles, the wine flirts with me from the very first minute. It exhales a delicate scent of red currants and fresh melon, a perfume that continues on the palate, enriched by a splash of lemon juice. Proud to be a semi-dry (...)
I particularly love this punchy red wine in summer! What really strikes when tasting it, is the liveliness and freshness that it displays. Moderately tannic, I would describe it as being crispy and vigorous, with just enough generosity as it needs. Could we call a wine from Cahors being thirst-quenching? Yes we can, as this wine is living proof! It’s is a young, enthusiastic and happy wine...
I forgot to mention its visual and olfactory aspects? Please excuse me: It’s black and purple as a (...)
When a winegrower from Gigondas infers his expertise to the stony and sandy soils of La Crau and the Saintes Vièrges, a refreshing breeze seems to rise on these terroirs of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Bottled since spring, the 2012 vintage is living proof!
Its color is soothing: blood red, very clear, with a slight touch of purple. The first nose is very fresh, very fruity, followed by a relatively quick opening on sweet spices, pepper and balsamic aromas. A young and tonic bouquet, that lingers (...)
What do we actually expect from a Champagne? That he will amuse or even seduce our palate? Crispy acidity or rather softness? Flattering fullness or sweet or fruity or mineral aromas? Or a bit from everything?
That might be the right answer, but it’s anything but easy to unite all these desires in each bottle of bubbles. Champagne is in fact no universal drink that meets all our needs whenever our brain starts to sparkle. The more character a champagne has, the more it will defer from our (...)
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