Innehållsförteckning för Summer 2020 från VertdeVin Wine Magazine

It is with real pleasure that I want to introduce to you this 2020 Summer edition of VERTDEVIN magazine. For this issue I chose to taste some wines from Bordeaux, White Bourgogne, White Loire, Rosé Provence, Rhône, Champagne, Armagnac and Rosé Veneto (Italy)... Due to Covid-19 circumstances this new issue is not, as usual, the result of exhilarating trips… All tasted wines are from wine sampling at home. Interviews, this time and exceptionally, were made by videoconference… except for Le Strette article that was made in January. Well, in the first part of the magazine you will meet some great interviews of winemakers from Bordeaux, Loire, Bourgogne and Italy. After that Joanie Metivier, a talented Canadian sommelier and journalist well known thanks to her blog and Instagram will give you…

Château Noaillac is a Médoc family property classified Cru Bourgeois Supérieur, located in the commune of Jau-Dignac-et-Loirac in the North Médoc. It was acquired in 1982 by the Pagès family, at the time already the owner of Château La Tour de By. At the time, the vineyard was already called Château Noaillac. ”My grandfather and my father started to replant the vineyard. At the beginning they replanted 12 hectares to reach 37 hectares fairly quickly. In 1990 the will to enlarge arrived and another 14 hectares were replanted.” Today the Château Noaillac vineyard covers almost 50 hectares and the property produces around 350,000 bottles per year, divided into seven different cuvées: Noaillac, Cuvée Prestige, Moulin Noaillac, La Rose Noaillac, Noaillac Rosé, etc. Let’s go together to meet Damien Pagès, winemaker…

The environmental impact of wine production is larger than you might think, and it’s been a global cause for concern. More than ever, wineries around the globe combine their effort to innovate and push further the limit of viticulture with a sustainable and eco-friendly approach. Beyond organics, sustainability is growing in importance with resource management in terms of water and energy efficiency in the vineyard and winery. Spottswoode is one of the increasing examples of sustainable-minded wineries in California and one of the first to show initiative in this matter. Spottswoode Estate was established in 1882 and was acquired by Mary and Jack Novak in 1971 to become the family wine estate it is today. The 42 hectares estate in St. Helena, in Napa Valley gained organic certification in 1992,…

Château La Diligente 2019 Puisseguin Saint-Emilion […] On the palate this wine expresses notes of juicy/fresh blackberry, juicy/fresh cassis, small notes of strawberry associated with touches of liquorice, chocolate, crushed raspberry as well as very fine hints of caramelization, toasted and dark chocolate/cocoa. Good length. A very discreet almost saline hint on the finish/persistence. A sapide, gourmand and harmonious wine. Château Magdeleine Bouhou Grand Vin 2019 Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux […] On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy / juicy cassis, pulpy / juicy small black fruits and small notes of lily / peony associated with hints of morello cherry, wild raspberry as well as fine hints of liquorice, black pepper, a discreet hint of fresh tobacco (in the background) and an imperceptible hint of ripe hazelnut (in…

Joseph Mellot - L’Original 2016 Sancerre The nose is fruity, gourmand, precise and well-built. It reveals notes of quince, lemon, green peach associated with touches of pink lychee, apricot, mandarine zests, silex as well as discreet hints of lime. The palate is fruity, elegant, gourmand and offers a beautiful definition, finesse, precision. On the palate this wine expresses notes of lemon, quince, small notes of crunchy vine peach, apricot associated with touches of pink lychee, lemon flowers/jasmine as well as hints of crunchy pear, passion fruit and mandarine. Good length. Score: 17.25 (94-95/100) Henri Bourgeois - La Bourgeoise 2016 Sancerre The nose is fruity, precise, racy and offers a fine concentration. It reveals notes of black cherry, juicy violet plum, small notes of small black fruits associated with a hint…

Mouriesse Vinum - Pierre d’Ambre 2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape The nose is elegant, racy and offers concentration, a fine intensity as well as a fine complexity. This wine should be decanted. It reveals notes of quince, crunchy Mirabelle, small notes of kumquat associated with touches of dry lemon, William pear as well as honeysuckle, fresh local copse, laurel, very discreet hints of exotic fruits, spices, an imperceptible hint of bee wax and pepper. The palate is fruity, elegant, beautifully defined, gourmand and offers a beautiful pulpy/juicy fruit, finely acidulous, a good aromatic purity, a little fat as well as a fine freshness, a fine acidulous frame and finesse of grain. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy Mirabelle plum, quince, small notes of apple associated with touches of kumquat, crushed…

Champagne Cattier Blanc de Blancs - Brut, Premier Cru The nose is fruity and offers a very fine creaminess as well as a fine freshness. It reveals notes of lemon, lime zests, small notes of juicy/fresh nectarine associated with fine touches of lemon flowers, limestone, subtle hints of juicy white grape, a very discreet hint of quénette and white flowers. The palate is fruity, well-balanced, precise and offers freshness as well as a small acidulous frame and crunchiness. On the palate this Champagne expresses notes of crunchy granny smith green apple, juicy/fresh lemon, small notes of juicy white grapes associated with small touches of fresh quénette and a subtle hint of crunchy/juicy pineapple, with very discreet hints of limestone, dried almond and white flowers. Good length. A finely tight finish.…

Inniskillin, Riesling Icewine 2018 Niagara Peninsula VQA, Ontario From Inniskillin’s Niagara Estate, The good acidity of Riesling allows for a refreshing mouth feel amid the many layers of flavours and intense, coating sweetness of 235 g/L of residual sugar. Its vibrant aromatic profile includes aromas of peach, apricot, honey and iced tea and caramel. It has a very good concentration and overall decadent character. Score: 15.5+ (91/100) Inniskillin, Oak Aged Gold Vidal Icewine 2017 Niagara Peninsula VQA, Ontario This Icewine was fermented in new French oak before being allowed to age an additional 3 months in oak prior to bottling. Vidal tend to have more tropical fruit flavors and this is a good example with its aromas of mangoes, pineapple, orange peel, baking spices and toasty vanilla. With its thick…

Château de Laubade Gascogna 2009 Bas-Armagnac The nose is elegant, aromatic, powerful and offers a beautiful finesse of the grain as well as intensity. It reveals notes of caramelization, sanguine orange, dry orange zests, small notes of dry kumquat associated with fine touches of dry green apple, flowers as well as very fine hints of white pepper, cuben pepper and a discreet hint of dry oak. The palate is fruity, elegant, well-balanced and offers a beautiful fat, roundness (full of control), precision, gourmandize as well as a fine straightness, a fine freshness and a small aerial side. On the palate this Armagnac expresses notes of caramelization, toasted, candied orange, small notes of crushed pear associated with small touches of crushed white fruits, lychee as well as fine hints of vanilla,…

SAUTERNES & BARSAC Château Bastor-Lamontagne 2019 Sauternes Château Cantegril 2019 Barsac Château Coutet 2019 Barsac 1er Grand Cru Classé Sauternes Château de Myrat 2019 Sauternes Grand Cru Classé Château Doisy-Daëne 2019 Barsac Grand Cru Classé Château Doisy-Dubroca 2019 Barsac Grand Cru Classé Château Filhot 2019 Sauternes Grand Cru Classé Château Guiraud 2019 Sauternes Grand Cru Classé Château Haut-Bergeron 2019 Sauternes Château La Tour Blanche 2019 Sauternes 1er Grand Cru Classé Sauternes Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey 2019 Sauternes, 1er Grand Cru Classé Château Raymond-Lafon 2019 Sauternes ler Grand Cru Classé Sauternes Château Rayne Vigneau 2019 Sauternes 1er Grand Cru Classé Sauternes Château Sigalas Rabaud 2019 Sauternes Premier Cru Classé Château Suduiraut 2019 Sauternes Premier Grand Cru Classé Clos Haut-Peyraguey 2019 Sauternes Premier Grand Cru Classé L’Extravagant de Doisy-Daëne 2019 Barsac PESSAC-LÉOGNAN & GRAVES…

Montalbera Solo Acciaio 2019 Barbera d’Asti Face to the castle of Montemagno, the winery – best knowns for its Ruche – in this vintage shows a very impressive and fresh Barbera. After a vilification in only inox vats, the pulp is very intense and the sip is vertical and fresh. The red fruits (blueberries, black cherry) are totally melted each other. The long flavor is pushed on with a salty and deep layer texture. (E.M.) Price: € Domaine Trapet 2018 Latricières Chambertin The nose is fruity, elegant and offers a beautiful tension, definition, a fine power as well as elegance. It reveals notes of juicy blackberry, juicy/crunchy plum and small notes of wild strawberry associated with fine touches of cherry as well as discreet hints of cornflower, camphor and discreet…

CÔTES DE PROVENCE Domaine de Tamary 2019 Côtes de Provence The nose is fresh as well as fruity. It reveals notes of fresh raspberry, small notes of fresh strawberry associated with touches of apple/fresh nectarine and discreet flowery hint. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers a juicy/finely acidulous frame, tension, freshness, fat, suavity as well as a small fat, a fine sapidity and a very discreet almost saline hint (in the background). On the palate this wine expresses notes of crushed nectarine, crushed pear/apple, small notes of fresh raspberry associated with a touch of tagada strawberry, very fine hints of quenette and a subtle hint of white flowers. Good length. Score: 14.75 (88-89/100) Château Sainte-Croix - Charmeur 2019 Côtes de Provence The nose is fruity and offers gourmandize, a…

Château Dalem is a family property located in AOC Fronsac and more precisely in the town of Saillans. Even though the beautiful building dates back to the 18th century, the creation of the vineyard dates back to 1610. Currently the Dalem vineyards extend over 40 hectares. On a clay-limestone soil with, in places, the latter (note: limestone) more or less deep. Indeed, the vineyard extends over a few plateaus and hillsides, hence its small geological variations. It was in 1955 the Rullier family, already owner of Château De La Huste (Fronsac), acquired Château Dalem. Michel Rullier would then employ the next 40 years to awaken this ”sleeping beauty” by completely renovating the facilities and also the vineyard. Today his daughter, Brigitte Rullier-Loussert, is in charge of the family properties. Let’s…

Through this article we do not offer you to discover a single property, as usual, but two large Châteaux du Bordelais belonging to the Quié family: Château Rauzan-Gassies (Margaux, 2nd Grand Cru Classé) and Château Croizet-Bages (Pauillac, 5th Grand Cru Classé). The family has been present for more than a century in the wine economy. The two family vintages are currently managed by the 3rd Quié generation, Ms. Anne Françoise Quié and her brother Mr. Jean-Philippe Quié. “Paul, my grandfather was a merchant in Paris, at the general stores in Bercy, but he came from Bordeaux. He worked on the distribution of low priced wines made in Algeria. In the 1930s as his business was running well he wanted to have his own production. At that time, the valuation of…

Domaine Augustin 2017 Collioure The nose is fruity, elegant, gourmand and offers a fine concentration. It reveals notes of black cherry, blackberry, plum and small notes of violet associated with discreet hints of blueberry, sweet spices and cardamom. The palate is fruity, fresh, mineral, well-balanced, elegant and offers a good definition, minerality, gourmandize and an acidulous frame, tension as well as precision, deepness and a small aerial side. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fleshy/juicy cassis, juicy/ripe blueberry and small notes of small berries associated with touches of zan, Brazilian pepper, discreet hints of sweet spices, coffee (in the background) and sense of the place. Good length and persistence. A beautiful definition and power on the persistence.(J.C.C) Adeodat 2017 Collioure The nose is elegant, aromatic, gourmand, racy and…

Gentil 2019 Bardolino Chiaretto The nose is fruity. It reveals notes of English candy, crushed cherry and small notes of fleshy / crushed Brugnon associated with a discreet hint of quenette and elder flowers. The palate is fruity, well-balanced, well-built and offers a juicy / slightly acidulous frame, freshness as well as a fine incisive side. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of pulpy / juicy redcurrants, pulpy / juicy raspberries and small notes of lemon combined with fine touches of crunchy / juicy vine peach as well as a discreet hint of lychee / quenette. Score: 15 (89-90/100) Monte Del Frá 2019 Bardolino Chiaretto The nose is fresh and fruity. It reveals notes of juicy Brugnon, lychee and small notes of citrus fruits associated with discreet hints of…

Felton Road, Block 3 - Pinot Noir 2019 Bannockburn, Central Otago This wine has strong floral character with a delicate and intriguing approach. Dark jam, baked plums, candied orange, tobacco, and Cajun spices makes a nuanced and complex bouquet. The texture is refined and detailed with silky smooth tannins, but also rich acidity, mineral touch and a dense concentration of flavors. Score: 16.5+ (93/100) Felton Road, Bannockburn - Pinot Noir 2019 Bannockburn, Central Otago The characteristic aromas of potpourri flowers, cherry, ripe raspberry, cedarwood, and spices abound in the glass, graceful and entwined with subtle minerality. The fruits of their four vineyards offer an attractive diversity of aromas and flavors as well as several layers and textures. The deeply textured mouthfeel is silky and already pleasantly accessible which is typical…