Champagne
Champagne Charles Mignon Brut Rosé NV, Premier Cru, Épernay, France, abv 12%
Épernay is the capital of the Champagne region. This town with its rich historic past is snuggled up along the Marne between hillsides and forests and houses the headquarters of the principal brands of Champagne.
From the 6.5 hectare family estate, Charles Mignon champagne offers a wide range of high quality champagnes, mainly from Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards. Spread over the Valle de Marne, la Montagne de Rheims and the Côte des Blancs, the style of the wines is characterised by freshness and the fact that they are Pinot dominant.
This one has a very appealing pink colour, onion skin hue, with a good beat plainly evident. The nose carries aromas of strawberry leaf and there are hints of butter cream and hazelnut biscuit. The bubbles are fine but intense, leading to a rounded fizz on the palate. There is plenty of fruit with a fresh textured creamy composition. A dry and well presented mousse, overall a developed and appealing style. A brilliant aperitif, it pairs very well with pork and poultry dishes and is an extraordinary match for red fruit desserts. €38.50
Champagne Jacquesson Cuvée no 733 NV, Dizy, France, abv 12%
Jacquesson was founded in 1798 by Memmie Jacquesson and is now run by brothers Jean-Hervé and Laurent Chiquet, who oversee the vineyards and day-to-day running of the winery; in addition there is a third partner, Michael Mackenzie, who is based in London
The Jacquesson vineyards are in the grand cru villages of Aÿ, Avize and Oiry and in the premier cru villages of Hautvillers, Dizy and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. These sites account for the majority of the fruit used by the house.
Since the foundation of the house, its cellar records show that each wine which passed through has been given an individual number, starting with No 1. This system is still in use, and the latest NV blend is designated 734.
The wine pours very well with creamy white mousse, showing good hold. Pale gold colour. The 733 is predominantly 2005 vintage, 78 per cent in fact. It comprises 52% Chardonnay, 24% Pinot Noir and 24% Pinot Meunier. A lean and rather minerally nose here, attractive and a little perfumed with chalky yellow fruits, grapefruit and lemons come to life too on the perfumed, vibrant finish. It is eye-wateringly dry too, just 2.5g per litre residual sugar. Rather an austere palate, with lovely freshness, elegant, crispy defined structure, steely even, stony and upright. It has creamy texture with long aftertaste of yeast lees, toast, roast almond and hazelnut. Try this with raw oysters or raw shrimps, a delight with sushi. €45
Bourgogne
2007 Château Fuissé, Tête de Cru, Pouilly Fuissé, Cru de Bourgogne, abv 13%
Pouilly Fuissé is a sub division of Macon, a large wine region between Beaujolais and Burgundy. Château Fuissé has a long and well-deserved reputation of making powerful, intense Chardonnays that have more in common with the great Burgundies of the Côte d ‘Or than run-of-the-mill Puilly Fuissé.
JJ Vincent, owner of Château Fuissé, bottles a selection of vines aged 25 years or more and between the 15 and 30 sites this is the “tête de cru” or “top of the growth”. This wine is always fermented in barrel, extremely rare today in Pouilly-Fuissé, and even in lighter years it can benefit from three to four years of cellaring.
Light pale yellow colour, it starts out with vanilla and clove notes, then apricot and crisp, ripe citrus fruit take over the nose. There is a perfect balance between creaminess and minerality, fresh and forward with nice richness on the palate. This is a classic wine with mineral, fresh, ripe fruit with a broth like note on the finish. This wine is best enjoyed with noble fish varieties like Dover sole or turbot, try with poultry or veal served with morels mushroom and cream sauce. €32.50
Alsace
2009 Joseph Cattin, Pinot Gris, Voegtlinshoffen, Alsace, France, abv 12%
The estate of Joseph Cattin is based in the heart of Alsace and the family has been involved in winemaking for three centuries.
The colour is strikingly gold. On the nose the wine is fruity and round and smells of ripe pears, beeswax and it has a slightly smoky touch with fruity apricots wafting through. Wonderfully textured in the mouth; silky as well, with flavours of pears, light apricot, wet stones and mandarin, orange zest flavours. The palate is also a mix, full of cardamom, vanilla, cinnamon and flowery herb notes that linger in the finish. Also lots of spice and autumnal hints. Beautifully balanced, elegant and quite compelling leading to a light smoky finish. My best food recommendation is Thai cuisine that isn’t too spicy, as well as Shanghainese or Cantonese dishes. €11
Languedoc
2009 Domaine De Bonal Vin de Pays de la Cité de Carcassonne, Château & Domaine Auzias Paretlongue, Languedoc, abv 12.5%
The Auzias vineyards, a stone’s throw from the famous old Cité of Carcassonne, make up the estate of the Château Auzias-Parentlongue en Cabardès, to give it its full name. Its history dates back to the beginning of the 12th century.
This summery white is composed of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Muscat. The wine has a beautiful honey colour, with an expressive nose of pears, peaches and honeysuckle. A medium mouth weight and palate of plums and apples gave way to a slightly off dry finish. It is excellent with Indian starters and for those looking for a different look at Chardonnay. €9
2008 Domaine De Bonal Rosé, Vin de Pays de la Cité de Carcassonne, Château & Domaine Auzias Paretlongue, Languedoc, abv 12.5%
There is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon as a backbone, 30% Grenache and 20% Cinsault. A classic southern France rosé, pretty pale pink, light, tiny bit sweet but devastatingly mouth watering, refreshing rosé. Imagine you smell and drink red fruit – strawberries, mulberries and redcurrants. This is a crisp and delicate wine, racy red fruits and a slight salty note with an extremely fresh finish. Enjoy as an aperitif or with refreshing salads and summer fruit, grills and kebabs. €9
2007 Château Bonal Prestige Vieilli en fût de Chêne, Cabardés AOC, Château & Domaine Auzias Paretlongue, Languedoc, abv 12.5%
Dark and well-coloured heart, dark ruby red, pleasing to the eye, fruity, tempting aromas that you do not need to sniff too hard to find giving a very good idea of the rounded, juicy flavours to come. Black fruits bouquet, floral scents of roses and hyacinth, fronted by dusty dried herbs, full-bodied and soft with a well-structured, elegant, creamy palate where all the rich elements combined well to a long and very satisfying, smooth, finish. The wine is aged in oak for six months and has enough balance and interest to match a wide variety of foods and occasions, the Mediterranean herbal elements in this wine almost demand something roasted or well grilled on the plate beside them, and is best to accompany this wine with a red wine sauce, preferably from the same wine. €12
French Depot
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