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Log fires, mulled wine, old films, games, country walks, cocktail parties, dinner amongst friends, family get-togethers…….. Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat, and it is time to indulge ourselves in delicious heart warming food and discover some interesting wines.
Remember: “Wine should be a prolonged sensation of tasting, and not a brief impact of drinking. Wine is not just ‘wine’. The essence of its appeal lies in its huge diversity”.
So, pour yourself a glass and let me lead you through the wonderful diversity of wine…
Without breaking the budget
Red wines :
Château Saincrit, 2009, Bordeaux Superieur (5.50€)
90% Merlot; 10% Cabernet Franc
Ruby red with fuschia reflections. Fruity aromas of blackberries, raspberries, plums and a spicy hint of white pepper, with some sweet tobacco.
The attack is lively with fresh acidity and red fruit flavours , finishing on a delicate hint of pepper. Ripe, savoury tannins. Ideal with both white and red meat dishes .
Wine Spectator 89 points.
Tour des Gendres, AOC Bergerac, 2010 (6,00€)
Merlot, Malbec
Aromas of cherries, plums and hints of smoke. Palate is dry, with fresh acidity and soft tannins. Light to medium bodied. Lovely complexity of flavours on the palate, with flavours of cherries and plums and some chocolaty hints.
White wines :
La Pie Colette, Blanc 2010 ; (€7,00)
Unusually gold robe – a mixture of grape varieties. Nose is lively, with lovely complex gourmet aromas – white fleshed fruits, and citrus fruit peel. Palate is off dry, with fresh, well balanced acidity. Quite fleshy, and the mid-palate is full of flavour, similar to nose. Lingering, ripe fruit finish.
Château Saincrit, 2010, L’Ephémère, Blanc sec ; €5.50
Pale gold robe. Lovely aromas of fresh apricots, honeysuckle, and hints of honey. Palate is well balanced, with refreshing acidity and a creamy texture. Rich and fruity, with flavours of brioche, and lots of honey.
Well balanced, complex, with a good depth of flavour. Absolutely gorgeous.
Great value for money
Red wines :
Domaine Pujol, Podio Alto, Languedoc 2009 (€12.90)
37% syrah, 33% Mourvedre, 20% Grenache, 10% Cinsault
Nose is restrained with initial aromas of blackcurrants. On opening, intense, complex aromas of dark fruits, wild raspberries, blackberries with hints of mint and caraway. Palate is dry with lively acidity and silky tannins. Medium bodied, very elegant with a long, aromatic finish.
St Cosme, Côtes du Rhône, 2010. (€8.90)
100% Syrah
The galets roulés “rolling stones!” on their red clay give Syrah’s power/strength and intensity. Conversely , the limestone sands reveal finesse and minerality.
“Graphite, strawberry compote, liquorice, lilac”
Wine spectator 90 points and voted amongst the top 100 wines for 2010.
Borie la Vitarèle, ‘Les Terres Blanches’, St Chinian, 2010 ; (€9,50)
Grenach, mourvèdre, syrah
The vineyard is surrounded by ‘Garrigue’(‘lavender, thyme, fennel and rosemary), and pine forests, which tend to affect the flavours of the wines – in a positive way.
This organic wine is fruity with a fresh acidity and elegant soft tannins.
Subtle black fruit flavours on the palate. A fresh, slate/stone minerality, with a
touch of white pepper spiciness . The palate is fresh and elegant, very long , good structure and perfect balance. Long scented finish, with refreshing eucalyptus/pine nuances.
My take home at night wine!
Vieillefont , Mouthes le Bihan, 2008 (€10,00)
Merlot 50%, Cabernet Sauvignon 25%, Cabernet Franc 15%, Malbec 10%
Driven by pure passion, Jean Mary and Cathy le Bihan have become one of the top winemakers in SW France, producing wines which truly express their ‘terroir’ or sense of place. The wines are elegant, with tremendous finesse and personality.
Vieillefont improves with every vintage. Soft, silky tannins, with flavours of freshly picked raspberries predominating, with mineral overtones. Mellow and smooth, with a character of its own.
Guery Château, AOC Minervois, ‘Les Eolides’. 2008. (€15,00)
Syrah + Grenache.
Deep robe with violet reflections.
First nose blackberries, black olive tapenade, opening out to dark fruits and liquorice. Hints of vanilla from the oak. Highly aromatic, with a full body and silky tannins. Very long, fresh finish.
White wines :
Château Tour des Gendres, Cuvée de Conti, AOC Bergerac (€8.20)
A dry, complex organic wine made from an interesting combination of our local
sauvignon, semillon and muscadelle grape varieties.
Enticing aromas of tangerines, white peaches, acacia and nuances of nutmeg.
Full bodied, well balanced ‘gourmet’ wine.
Château K, Blanc sec, . AOC Bergerac (€8.00).
Semillon 30%; Sauvignon Gris 30%; Sauvignon Blanc 20%; Muscadelle 10%.
Aromas of dried fruits – apricots, and quince jelly, with overtones of ginger, and orange peel
Mouth-watering acidity. Citrusy flavours of grapefruit and ripe lemons on the palate. Lingering finish with core flavours of pink grapefruit.
Domaine Gibault, Touraine, Sauvignon blanc. (€8.50)
100% Sauvignon blanc
Aromas of fresh apples, grapefruit and freshly cut grass. Balanced and pure with finesse and energy complemented by a mineral backbone. Very comparable to a Sancerre, but less expensive. Gorgeous on its own as an ‘apero’.
Domaine Laporte, Sancerre « Le Rochoy » Silex , (€12,90)
A wonderful Sancerre – full of tension and minerality.
As its name suggests, mineral aromas of silex, and also citrusy notes.
Palate is dry, with crisp, refreshing acidity. Lingering clean, fresh , ‘smokey’ finish.
Because you’re worth it!
Red wines :
Chateau du Cèdre, Le Cèdre, 2006, AOC Cahors (29.00€)
100% Malbec .
Aromas of dark fruits – cassis, blackberries, myrtille, chocolate and spices. The palate has rich gourmet flavours of black fruits and sinfully dark chocolate, with savoury tannins, an opulent mouth-feel and a tenacious finish. Ideal with venison or wild boar.
Clos Louie 2007, AOC Côtes de Castillon (29,00€)
Carmenère, malbec, merlot, cabernet franc.
Aromas of cassis, blackberries, mint chocolate and graphite. The palate is full of dark fruits, vanilla and chocolate, with chewy tannins and soft acidity.
St Cosme, Gigondas, Côtes du Rhône, 2009 (23,00€)
Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Syrah
Gloriously concentrated fruit with a rich, silky texture, supple tannins,
alongside wonderful freshness.
White wines :
Domaine Leflaive, Puligny Montrachet 2009 (69,00€)
Chardonnay
Limited quantity of this bio-dynamic wine.
Fruity, floral and very mineral. Orange blossom, citrus fruits - lemons, limes, orange peel, dried peaches and apricots . Full bodied, full of flavour with an extremely long finish.
A wine of outstanding quality due to its balance, concentration, complexity and length.
Tour des Gendres, AOC Bergerac, ‘Anthologia’, 2008. (€40.00)
Sauvignon blanc
Nose is fresh and lively, yet with a restrained elegance. Aromas of candied peel, and a wonderful mineral backbone. Dry, fresh, lively acidity, powerful flavour intensity on the palate - écorces d’oranges and a clear-cut gunflint minerality.
Sweet wines :
Sauternes: La Tour Blanche 1999 (54,00€)
Old gold colour, with aromas of tangerines, candied apricots and quince jelly. Complex, full bodied, seductive palate with an amazing endless finish.
Sauternes: Chateau d’Yquem, 1945. (price on request)
From the outstanding 1945 vintage, this extremely rare Yquem scored 91/100 Parker points. Burnished gold tending towards amber in colour, it is medium to full bodied, but remarkably rich and concentrated with a honeyed-caramel sweetness on a background of tropical fruits, dried apricots, and biscotti. This iconic wine has a massive long finish.
Bon dégustation et bonnes fêtes
Mitch
www.eymetwines.com Tel 06 22 56 19 80 email: mitch@eymetwines.com
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