Tag Archives: Cabernet Franc

Chateau Bonalgue Pomerol

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Chateau Bonalgue, Pomerol

Chateau Bonalgue is a relatively new wine for Fareham Wine Cellar which we have been selling for about 2 years. I have tried two different vintages now, the 2005 and the 2008 Chateau Bonalgue, and I have been quite impressed with both wines, they are certainly great wines for the money when you consider the stratospheric prices of some Pomerol.

Chateau Bonalgue have recently posted this video and I thought it was really well produced and it is always nice to put names to faces and places.

About Chateau Bonalgue

Chateau Bonalgue is a located in the Pomerol appellation of Bordeaux. The Bourotte family acquired the Chateau in 1926 with Pierre Bourotte taking the helm in 1961, then his son Jean-Baptiste in 2005. Today the vineyard is in an excellent condition, and the property continues to improve and to refine its methods with a mix of traditional methods and modern equipment, whilst retaining the characteristics of the exceptional terroir of Bonalgue.

The vineyard is planted with 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc and comprises 7.55 hectares of gravel and sandy-clay soils, with a subsoil of gravels and alios – the rich band of iron-ore that characterizes the Pomerol terroir. These qualities make this a heat-retaining soil which means that the grapes ripen early and evenly, reaching perfect maturity.

The vines have an average of 25 years old and, with precise and meticulous attention to detail in the vineyard, means they produce consistent, high quality grapes every year. The vines undergo pruning, leaf thinning, de-budding and green harvesting in order to attain this quality. The grapes are harvested into small trays so the grapes to no get damages prior to delivery to the wines. At the winery there is a final stage of hand-sorting of the grapes.

The wine is aged for 18 months in French oak.

Chateau Bonalgue at Fareham Wine Cellar

Chateau Bonalgue, Pomerol 2005 Bottles and Magnums

“A sleeper of the vintage, this impressively run, small Pomerol estate has turned out a fruit-driven (loads of black cherries and cassis) 2005 revealing notions of smoke, licorice and wood. It is a plump, corpulent, fleshy wine to enjot during the first 10 to 12 years of life.” 88-89 Points, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

Chateau Bonalgue, Pomerol 1.5 Litre Magnums

“Black fruit and smoky bacon, a little herbaceous. Quite closed. Very very fine tannins and gives the impression that the fruit is there but not yet out of its shell. Utmost restraint and as yet hidden depth. Drink 2012-20.” Jancis Robinson

Chateau Bonalgue

Chateau Bonalgue Bottle and Magnum

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Cabernet Gernischt confirmed to be Carmenere – Wine from China

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Cabernet Gernischt confirmed to be Carmenere

An Update to my earlier post,

Chinese Wine – Changyu Cabernet D’Est available at Fareham Wine Cellar.

I have been alerted to an article by Jancis Robinson about the Changyu Cabernet

Gernischt Red Blend 2011. As you may know Jancis and José Vouillamoz have just released what is probably the definitive book about wine grapes called Wine Grapes. Apparently José Vouillamoz managed to get some samples of Cabernet Gernischt from Changyu and DNA analysis has confirmed it to be none other than Carmenere!

“This turned out to be the local grape speciality, the variety known in China as Cabernet Gernischt, probably a mistaken transcription of Cabernet Gemischt, or ‘mixed Cabernets’, on some cuttings. Our co-author of Wine Grapes, José Vouillamoz, managed to get samples of this variety from China’s biggest winery Changyu to analyse their DNA and established that Cabernet Gernischt is in fact Carmenère, the old Bordeaux variety now so common in Chile. Hence the green note, for it is evident in many examples of Carmenère grown even in the much hotter climate of Chile.”

Previously it was thought that Cabernet Gernischt was a Cabernet Sauvigon and Cabernet Franc cross or perhaps simply Cabernet Franc. It certainly shares many characteristics of Cabernet France and can be quite green and herbal.

Read the rest of the Jancis Robinson’s article here.

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New Bordeaux Wines for 2013 from Fareham Wine Cellar

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New Bordeaux Wines for 2013 from Fareham Wine Cellar

Please find below my selection of five different red Bordeaux wines and one fresh and crisp white Bordeaux. Clarets are perhaps one of the most traditional wines and they make great presents or are just ideal for drinking with a Sunday roast or cheeseboard.

These Bordeaux wines are all available from our shop (by the bottle and the case) but I have included a delivered price as well – these would make ideal presents or corporate gifts.

The delivered price includes delivery to most areas of the UK (Highlands and Islands excepted) and a card with a message.
I have included a mixed Bordeaux wine tasting case containing two bottles of each wine for anyone who might not be able to make up their mind!

Please find more information on the various Bordeaux wines below.

Bordeaux Wines – White Wine

Chateau Vrai Caillou “Les Vignes de la Garenne”, Bordeaux AC, Michel Pommier 2011

£9.25 per bottle
£105.00 per case (12 bottles) collected
£115.00 per case (12 bottles) delivered

Chateau Vrai Caillou is located in the district of Soussac, in the Entre-Deux-Mers area between the Garonne river and the Dordogne River. It has been in the Pommier family since 1863 and, as was common at this time, was set up for mixed farming. It was mentioned in the Féret guide in 1879. The current owner is Michel Pommier and it was his grandfather that decided to concentrate purely on viticulture in 1920. The white grapes planted at Chateau Vrai Caillou are 70% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Semillon and 10% Muscadelle. The average age of the vines is 10 years old. There is skin maceration and fermentation is in steel vats.

Tasting Notes: This is a beautifully fresh wine, it has green tints, very elegant fruit aromas and a crisp clean finish. Serve chilled as an ideal accompaniment to shellfish.

Bordeaux Wines – Red Wines

Chateau Barrabaque Cuvee Antoine, Canon Fronsac 2009

£9.76 per bottle
£111.00 per case (12 bottles) collected
£121.00 per case (12 bottles) delivered

Chateau Barrabaque is a small, 9 hectare estate located on the right bank of the river Gironde in Canon-Fronsac. Chateau Barrabaque is a Bordeaux wine already on Robert Parker’s radar and the Cuvée Prestige is highly rated. The Cuvée Antoine is from a plot of 35 year old vines located at the “pieds de cotes”, it is aged in second and third fill barriques. There is minimum use of chemicals in the all aspects of production and Chateau Barrabaque are committed to protecting the environment.

Tasting Notes: Chateau Barrabaque Cuvée Antoine has an intense, fruity nose with a preponderance of blackcurrants and jammy dark fruit aromas. The robust palate is full of more blackcurrant, cherries, a touch of vanilla spice and has good supple tannin structure.

Chateau Loudenne, Medoc Cru Bourgeois 2009

£14.51 per bottle
£165.00 per case (12 bottles) collected
£175.00 per case (12 bottles) delivered

Château Loudenne is inextricably linked with the British wine trade. Built in the 17th century, Loudenne had many owners until 1875 when it was sold to two English brothers, Walter and Alfred Gilbey. The Gilbeys were already well known wine and spirit merchants in London and producers of the gin of the same name. Château Loudenne is a blend of 48% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec. Michel Rolland is the consultant oenologist.

Tasting Notes: Chateau Loudenne is a beautiful deep colour with shades of violet. A nice nose of fresh red fruits: raspberry and blackcurrant. The attack in mouth is plain, rich of very ripe fruit tannins dominated by blackcurrant jam. Good balance between acidity and tannins. This wine has fine woody scents well mixed with the fruit aromas which last in the finish leaving a liquorice flavour.

La Salle de Poujeaux, Moulis en Medoc 2005

£17.01 per bottle
£193.00 per case (12 bottles) collected
£203.00 per case (12 bottles) delivered

La Salle de Poujeaux is the second wine of Chateau Poujeaux. It is located in the heart of the Médoc, between Margaux and Saint-Julien, the Moulis appellation benefits from an exceptional terroir. Planting at Château Poujeaux consists of the four traditional and perfectly complementary grape varieties – Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Merlot (40%), Cabernet Franc (5%) and Petit Verdot (5%). The second wine comes from younger plots of vines. In the 2003 classification of Cru Bourgeois wines, Château Poujeaux was one of just nine to be placed in the highest category, Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnels.

Review: “This deep ruby/purple-tinged sleeper of the vintage exhibits fresh, lively minerality intermixed with delicate background wood, sweet raspberry fruit, medium to full body, zesty acidity, and ripe tannin. Usually the top wine from Moulis, Poujeaux’s 2005 is again a fairly priced, impressive effort.” 89 Points, Robert Parker

Chateau Lilian Ladouys, St Estephe Cru Bourgeois 2008

£18.25 per bottle
£208.00 per case (12 bottles) collected
£218.00 per case (12 bottles) delivered

Chateau Lilian LadouysChateau Lilian Ladouys is located in St Estephe next door to Cos D’Estournel. Under the directorship of Pierre Fougere who heads up the Société Chateau Lilian Ladouys, in recent years there has been massive investment and a marked improvment in the qualities of the wines. The 48 hectare estate is planted with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, with an average age of 30 years plus, spread over 90 different vineyard plots.

Review: “Rich, youthful blackcurrant fruit nose. Superb concentration, very full but not heavy in a confident, seamless style. Classy, depth and though showing well now has much more to give. Drink 2012-2018.” 4 stars, (18.2 points) Decanter Magazine

“This is ripe and filled in, with a good core of red currant, damson plum and cherry fruit that picks up savory herb, mineral and tea notes as it moves through the focused finish. Drink now through 2016″ 89 Points, Wine Spectator

Chevalier de Lascombes, Margaux AC (second wine of Chateau Lascombes) 2008

£25.01 per bottle
£285.00 per case (12 bottles) collected
£295.00 per case (12 bottles) delivered

Chateau Lascombes, located in the Margaux appellation of the Bordeaux region of France, was classified as one of fifteen second growths in the original Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. Chevalier de Lascombes comes from the younger vines on the estate and tends to have a higher propertion of Merlot than the main wine and is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 48%, Merlot 48%, and 4% Petit Verdot.

Review: “This is fresh and open, with tasty plum, cedar and mineral notes allied to a silky, medium-bodied frame. Drink now.” 87 Points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 2011

Fareham Wine Cellar Bordeaux Wine Tasting Case

Two bottles of each of the following (each of the wines above)

Chateau Vrai Caillou “Les Vignes de la Garenne”, Bordeaux AC, Michel Pommier 2011
Chateau Barrabaque Cuvée Antoine, Canon Fronsac 2009
Chateau Loudenne, Médoc Cru Bourgeois 2009
La Salle de Poujeaux, Moulis en Medoc 2005
Chateau Lilian Ladouys, St Estephe Cru Bourgeois 2008
Chevalier de Lascombes, Margaux AC (second wine of Chateau Lascombes) 2008

£178.00 per case (12 bottles) collected
£188.00 per case (12 bottles) delivered

To place an order please telephone 01329 822733

You can see all of our other Bordeaux wines here.

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Peller Estate Wine Tasting

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Peller Estate Canadian Sparkling and Icewine Tasting

with Peter Ayling @ Fareham Wine Cellar

Please find details below of our next wine tasting at Fareham Wine Cellar and some diary dates for our December Christmas wine tastings.
The European Agent for Peller Estate, Peter Ayling, will be hosting a tasting of Canadian sparkling and dessert wines at Fareham Wine Cellar on Saturday 24th November. The idea of the tasting is to explore food / wine pairing with some smoked salmon, blue cheese, dark chocolate and white chocolate and 5 different wines from Peller Estate – 2 different sparkling wines and three different Icewines.

For this reason we are going to try something a little different to make the wine tasting a little easier to run – there will be half an hour time slots for groups of up to 6 people. More information, dates, times etc. below.

So if you have never tried Canadian wine this would be a great opportunity to get a primer on Canadian sparkling and Icewines, including a very unusual red Icewine made from Cabernet Franc as well as a Riesling and a Vidal. Ideal wine for the Christmas festivities!

Peller Estate Wine Tasting with Peter Ayling

Saturday 24th November 2012
@ Fareham Wine Cellar

11am until 3.30pm

This is an informal wine tasting at our shop.
The following half an hour time slots will be available, and we can take a maximum of 6 people per time slot.
11.00am until 11.30am
11.30am until 12.00pm
12.00pm until 12.30pm
12.30pm until 1.00pm
and
1.30pm until 2.00pm
2.00pm until 2.30pm
2.30pm until 3.00pm
3.00pm until 3.30pm
If you wish to attend please contact me by telephone, on 01329 822733, or email to book a time slot.The idea is to turn up at the beginning of the appointed time slot so we can give everyone the full half an hour. Please bear in mind that we need to know the numbers in advance to arrange the quantities of food so you must book in advance.
I hope this all makes sense. As always, please telephone 01329 822733 if you have any questions.
Here is some information on the wines we will be tasting,

The Peller family have been making wine in Niagara for three generations. At 43º latitude, the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario, home to Peller Estate, is within the same latitudinal range as Southern France, Rioja in Spain, Chianti Classico in Italy and Oregon in the USA. The Niagara Peninsula is the only place in the world where every single year the summers are so warm red wine grapes can be ripened, but the winters are cold enough to make Icewine (but never so cold that the vines do not survive).

Grapes for Peller Estate Icewines are always picked at temperatures of at least -10ºC, with the grapes frozen on the vine and hand-picked in the middle of the cold Canadian night. Once picked, the grapes are pressed immediately while still frozen. Authentic Icewine is very different from other dessert wines; prior to being picked in late December, the grapes freeze and then thaw 8 to 10 times. Each time they freeze, new and more complex flavours are released into the juice from the grape. The signature of great Icewine is the balancing tension between sweetness and acidity. These sublime wines are guaranteed to make an indelible impression on you – once tasted, never forgotten!

The sparkling wines are made using the traditional ‘méthode’. The Peller Estate Ice Cuvée sparkling is made from hand-picked Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. When the lees are disgorged, a ‘dosage’ of Vidal Icewine is added (110ml). Enhanced by the burst of flavour from Vidal Icewine, a sparkling wine of unique style and finesse is created. The Ice Cuvée Rosé is made in a similar way except, as well as the white Vidal Icewine used as dosage, some of Peller’s red Icewine, made from Cabernet Franc, is added too.

Sparkling Wines

NV Ice Cuvée Sparkling, Peller Estate  Very fine bubbles spiral upwards, through this brilliant yellow straw coloured wine. The bouquet of apricot, yeast and ripe apple, with hints of honey, are followed by tropical fruits on the palate and a refreshing sweet grapefruit finish.

NV Ice Cuvee Rosé, Peller Estate
A medium-bodied, refreshing sparkler that is slightly off-dry, yet finishes dry as a result of the delicate tannins from the Cabernet Franc. On the nose there are wonderful aromas of strawberry, peach juice, watermelon and currant. On the palate this wine is bursting with red berries and currants which linger through on the finish with an added note of spice.

Dessert Wines

2010 Vidal Icewine, Peller EstatePeller Estate Vidal Icewine

A gold yellow colour with an aromatic bouquet of lemon marmalade, carmelized oranges, golden pineapple and a touch of honey. A rich, medium to full-bodied wine with explosive flavours of honey, golden pineapple, star anise and brown sugar. Sweet citrus and star fruit linger on the finish.

 

 

2007 Riesling Icewine, Peller Estate

Peller Riesling has a delicate straw yellow colour with an intriguing aroma of lemon drops, quince, Bartlett pear and golden raspberries, with a touch of floral honey. On the palate this Icewine displays a luscious yet elegant mouth-feel with fruit flavours of lemon, melon, papaya, mango and orange. It has a refreshing acidity and a long length.

2010 Cabernet Franc Icewine, Peller EstatePeller Estate Cabernet Franc Icewine

Deep salmon pink colour with an aromatic bouquet of rhubarb, raspberry, blackberry a touch of spice and herbal notes. A rich mouth-feel with wonderful fruit flavours of red berries and rhubarb. Red currants, spice and pomegranate on a long lingering finish. Soft delicate tannins and the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity provide great mouth-feel.

For more information visit the Peller Estate Website

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Best’s Great Western Cabernet Franc 2000

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Best’s Great Western Cabernet Franc 2000

Today’s lunchtime tipple. We thought we had better re-acquaint ourselves with this as we have a few bottles left and it has got some good age to it now.

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Best’s Wines is a relatively small, family owned winery located in Great Western (over the road from Seppelt) and has been in the Thomson family since 1920. For the past 50 vintages fourth generation vintner Viv Thompson has been in charge of crafting Best’s wines, taking the “best” of modern innovation and blending it with tradition to arrive at wonderfully balanced and distinct Aussie wines. Best’s is now run by Viv’s son, Ben Thomson, the fifth generation of the Thomson family.

Best’s Great Western Cabernet Franc is sourced from the Concongella vineyard. It has a reddish / brown colour with a really minty, eucalpytus nose, some leafy and spicy notes. The palate is predominantly red fruit with some spicy, peppery notes and some green, leafy characteristics typical of Cabernet Franc. The palate is soft, smooth but perhaps a little short. It is in pretty good shape for a 12 year old Cabernet Franc. Serve it lightly chilled, perhaps after 20 to 30 minutes in the fridge, and let it warm up in the glass.

If you like a lighter style of Cabernet Franc, something similar to this would be a Loire red or even the Changyu Cabernet d’Est.

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New Chinese Wine – Changyu Cabernet D’Est

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Changyu Cabernet D’Est, Chinese Wine

At Fareham Wine Cellar, we have just taken our first delivery of  a new Chinese wine. This is not our first Chinese wine however, we used to supply Dragon Seal, which was made by French company Pernod Ricard, back in the mid 1990s – I wonder what happened to that venture? Anyway back to Changyu wines.

Chateau Changyu Cabernet D'Est

Chateau Changyu

The Changyu group is one of the oldest and most dynamic wine companies in China. The history of viticulture and wine production in China can be traced back to the Han Dynasty which was from 206BC to 220AD. Changyu can trace their history back to 1892 when cuttings from Bordeaux, Burgundy and Alsace were planted, European winemakers were employed and China’s first “European” vineyard was created. Since then Changyu has managed to keep going, despite being taken over by the state at one point. In the 1990 they entered into a joint venture with French wine giant Castel. The focus has always been on producing European, and particularly French-style wines.

Changyu Vineyards

Changyu Cabernet D’Est is produced from 75 hectares of vines, that have been organic for three years. From the 2012 the wine should be able to be labelled as such. The vineyards are located in Ningxia, China‘s newest wine-growing area, in the Helan Mountain region, located in Central Western China on the fringes of the Gobi Desert and close to the Yellow River. This is quite an arid area but with good sunlight hours which allows the grapes to ripen fully. Situated at 1100m, the warm days are coupled with cool nights which means the resulting wine retains freshness.

Changyu Cabernet D’Est

Changyu Cabernet D'Est

Changyu Cabernet D’Est is made from the little-known Cabernet Gernischt grape variety, this is thought to be a crossing of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc although some think it is Cabernet Franc. This variety apparently became extinct in Europe some time ago. The grapes tend to be larger than Cabernet Sauvignon and produce a less tannic but spicier and fruity wine.

 

Tasting notes – the Changyu Cabernet D’Est has a god, clear, ruby red colour. On the nose there are red fruits, sweetish notes of blackcurrant and slightly grassy, herbaceous flavours. Pehaps a little bit green. The palate is soft and round with good tannins, more red fruit and a little hint of green pepper. It is medium to light-bodied and has good length. I have to agree with Jamie Goode’s notes below – the wine is very reminiscent of perhaps a Saumur Rouge of Chinon from the Loire.

Buy Changyu Cabernet D’Est here.

Review

“This is a varietal Cabernet Gernischt (a cross of Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon), from vineyards at 1100 m. Bright red in colour, it has a very Cabernet Franc like nose of leafy green berry fruits. The palate is fresh and slightly green with some cherry and berry fruit, as well as some grippy tannins. Supple and very Loire-like, with a hint of rusticity about it. 87/100″ Jamie Goode, www.wineanorak.com

Update 23/05/12 – Good article about the success of Chinese wines, including those from Ningxia, at the Decanter Wine Awards 2010

Update 09/07/12 – Changyu Pioneer Wine Co. plans to put Chinese wines on the map | Vancouver, Canada | Straight.com – Changyu are planning on building a “wine city” which will cover 413 hectares!!

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