News
Suduiraut launches Sauternes for younger drinkers
Les Lions de Suduiraut, which makes its debut this month, is described as a ‘classic Sauternes’ produced from hand-picked grapes affected by noble rot, but is also said to be ‘fresher, fruitier and more vibrant’ than its traditional counterparts. The first wine available is from the 2009 vintage, a blend of 96% Semillon and 4% Sauvignon Blanc, bottled at 14.3% abv and with 134g/litre of residual sugar. The bright gold label of Les Lions de Suduiraut is another break with the usually restrained Sauternes packaging, using a label which features the rampant lions of the château’s crest. AXA Millésimes, owner of Château Suduiraut and other châteaux including Pichon-Baron and Petit-Village, describes the wine as ‘totally versatile – perfect as an aperitif, perhaps with some salted nuts, olives or smoked salmon canapés, while still having the depth and gravitas to partner puddings and blue cheese’. AXA managing director Christian Seely said he was ‘very excited’ about the new launch, and about the future for Sauternes overall. Les Lions de Suduiraut will be available internationally through key négociants from early this month
18-10-201110:30
Le Pin unveils new winery...
The new winery at Pomerol's iconic 2.7 hectare Le Pin estate has opened in time for the 2011 harvest. Prev Next You are here: Decanter News Wine News Le Pin unveils new winery Friday 30 September 2011 by Jane Anson in Bordeaux Be the first to comment The new winery at Pomerol's iconic 2.7 hectare Le Pin estate has opened in time for the 2011 harvest. Replacing the famously low-key former building, the new cellars are around 60% below ground, with just the vinification area and a seven-metre high tower, topped by a tasting room and roof terrace, visible from the outside. The site was designed by Belgian architect Paul Robbrecht of Robbrecht & Daem. Robbrecht has formerly worked on the Whitechapel Art Gallery in London and the Bruges concert hall, but this was his first winery, and took its inspiration from cellars such as Pichon Baron and Latour, ‘but on a smaller, intimate scale that suits Le Pin,’ Jacques Thienpont told. ‘We took delivery of the vats on Friday September 16,’ Thienpont said, ‘and brought the first grapes in the following Monday. Already we can see the difference in the precision that this new cellar gives.' ‘But the work in the vines is what counts, and I will still interfere as little as possible in the process of vinification.’ In total the new cellars contain seven stainless steel vats while in the underground section, there is room for two vintages of barrels – usually between 30 to 40 barrels per year – together with separate rooms for storage, bottle preparation and a technical control centre. Materials used throughout the winery include local Frontenac stone, French oak, unpolished concrete and Welsh slate for the roof tiles. The landscaping outside the cellars is still to be finished, and a new pine tree is due to be planted, to add to the two existing trees that gave the estate its name.
17-10-201122:59
Rauzan Ségla & Canon buys Ch. Matras
The Wertheimer family, owners of luxury goods house Chanel, and Chateau Rauzan Segla in Margaux, have bought the estate neighbouring their classified Saint Emilion property Chateau Canon. The 12-hectare Chateau Matras, also a classified growth, was purchased for €8m, in a deal that valued the land at €600,000 per hectare. Rauzan Segla director John Kolasa said of the deal, ‘Canon has been undergoing extensive re-organisation for the past 15 years which means that eventually all of our 22 hectares will be used to produce our premium wine. The vineyard of Chateau Matras will be supplying us with our second wine, Clos Canon. We will have to wait and see if some of the plots can be included in the premium wine.’ ..
19-06-201113:53
PRIMEURS 2010 My personal tasting notes (part 7)
ST-EMILION ************** Ausone 98/100 Cheval Blanc 97+/100 Angélus 96/100 Pavie Macquin 96/100 Tertre Rotboeuf 94-95/100 Larcisse Ducasse 93-95/100 Petit Cheval 93/100 Chapelle d'Ausone 92-94/100 La Gaffelière 92/100
19-04-201113:57
PRIMEURS 2010 My personal tasting notes (part 6)
PESSAC-LEOGNAN (RED) ****************************** Pape Clement 96/100 Haut-Brion 95+/100 (most Cabernet ever!) La Mission Haut Brion 95/100 Haut-Bailly 95/100 Domaine de Chevalier 94/100 Fieuzal 92-94/100
19-04-201113:54
PRIMEURS 2010 My personal tasting notes (part 5)
POMEROL ************ Pétrus 97/100 La Conseillante 96/100 Le Pin 96/100 Vieux Chateau Certan 95/100 Eglise Clinet 94+/100 Clinet 94-96/100 Petite Eglise 90/100 (best value-for money Pomerol)
18-04-201116:41
PRIMEURS 2010 My personal tasting notes (part 4)
MARGAUX ************ Ch. Margaux 97/100 Ch. Palmer 94/100 Pavillon Rouge du Ch. Margaux 91-93/100 Ch. Durfort Vivens 93+/100 Ch. Rauzan Ségla 93/100
13-04-201109:31
PRIMEURS 2010 My personal tasting notes (part 3)
ST-JULIEN ************* Gruaud-Larose 95-97/100 Ducru Beaucaillou 94-96/100 Léoville Barton 94/100 Langoa Barton 93/100
12-04-201113:30
PRIMEURS 2010 My personal tasting notes (part 2)
ST-ESTEPHE *************** Montrose 97+/100 Calon-Ségur 94-96/100 Phélan-Ségur (best value-for-money) Dame de Montrose 91-93/100
11-04-201109:15
PRIMEURS 2010 My personal tasting notes (part 1)
PAUILLAC ************ Lafite Rothschild 99-100/100 Mouton Rothschild 98+/100 Latour 96+/100 Pichon Ctsse 94-96+/100 Pichon Baron 94-96/100 Lynch Bages 93-95/100 Grand Puy Lacoste 95/100 d'Armailhac 94/100 Duhart Milon 94/100 Pontet Canet 92-94+/100 Clerc Milon 92-94/100 Haut-Batailley 93/100 (best value-for-money) Carruades de Lafite 93/100
08-04-201123:37