Touraine AOC Sauvignon Blanc Fournier Père et Fils 2022

The colour is pale straw. On the nose passion fruit, grapefruit, mineral notes and green bell pepper. In the mouth very fresh. The aftertaste has a savour of lime and is medium long.

Since 1926 Fournier Père et Fils is located in the wine-growing village of Chaudoux, at the heart of the Sancerre AOC, the easternmost of Loire Valley’s 51 appellations. Touraine AOC is another one, but located some 200km westward, in proximity of the city of Tours. Continue reading “Touraine AOC Sauvignon Blanc Fournier Père et Fils 2022”

Rauzan-Ségla 2012

The colour is medium ruby. On the nose dark cherries, plums, cocoa powder, green pepper. In the mouth masculine and rustic, with a not very long aftertaste.

Being a still relatively young Second Grand Cru Classé of Bordeaux, I decided to decant it and the experience greatly improved.

The 2012 Rauzan-Ségla is a blend of 54.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot and 1.5% Petit Verdot. Continue reading “Rauzan-Ségla 2012”

Chateau Troplong Mondot 2013

The colour is deep ruby. On the nose blueberries and dark cherries. In the mouth fresh, elegant and tasty. The aftertaste is discrete.

Chateau Troplong Mondot 2013 is a blend of 90% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is one of the stars of a very difficult vintage. Continue reading “Chateau Troplong Mondot 2013”

Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou 2013

The colour is deep ruby. On the nose cherries, strawberries, plums, caffè latte. In the mouth very elegant, silky, fresh and charming. The aftertaste last for a while.

Overall, the 2013 has been a very challenging year in Bordeaux, but this blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot is flawless and a great achievement for the vintage. Continue reading “Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou 2013”

Chateau d’Armailhac 2009 & 2012

The colour is in both cases medium ruby. On the nose also pretty similar. Both display an aroma of herbs, red and black berries, with the addition of leather and tobacco for the 2009, and coffee and chocolate for the 2012. In the mouth they are both very elegant. The tannins of the 2012 are edgier. The aftertaste medium long in both cases.

This the first impression, with the bottles just opened. Continue reading “Chateau d’Armailhac 2009 & 2012”

Le Black Label Brut

The colour is medium gold, with fine, long lasting bubbles. On the nose pastry and bread crust. In the mouth refreshing, with a citrusy flavour. The aftertaste is fairly long.

Le Black Label Brut is a blend of 51% Pinot Noir, 36% Chardonnay and 13% Meunier grapes. Continue reading “Le Black Label Brut”

La Closerie 2018

The colour is deep purple. On the nose ripe blueberries, blackberries, plumbs, licorice, pepper. In the mouth not very balanced. Soft at the beginning and edgy at the end. The aftertaste is medium long, but unpleasantly dry and bitter.

This wine is made with Syrah and Grenache grapes by Château Lavabre under the Pic Saint-Loup AOP. Continue reading “La Closerie 2018”

Femme de Champagne 2002

The colour is medium gold, with a fine perlage. On the nose floral, with oxidative and caramelised notes. In the mouth very tasty and elegant. The taste and the very long aftertaste remind of dry sherry.

Femme de Champagne is the top product of the Champagne House Duval-Leroy, an independent family business founded in 1859 and located in the prestigious Côte des Blancs. Continue reading “Femme de Champagne 2002”

Dom Pérignon Plénitude P2 2004

The colour is medium gold, with a fine perlage. On the nose citrusy notes of pink grapefruit, blood oranges, peaches, pastry cream, buttered toast. In the mouth elegant, very tasty, charming and succulent. The aftertaste is long.

Dom Pérignon exclusively makes champagne with grapes from a single year. There are some vintages that show extra potential and can benefit from extra time to age and mature. That’s the idea behind Dom Pérignon’s Plénitudes series. Continue reading “Dom Pérignon Plénitude P2 2004”