Last week, three members of the iDealwine team had the pleasure of taking part in two wine tastings in the heart of Paris. We recap on some of our favourites.
Grand Tasting Pro
Organised by Bettane+Desseauve and formerly known as the WineLab, the Grand Tasting Pro is one of the most important events in a Paris wine professional’s calendar, the perfect opportunity to meet talented wine producers from France and taste their wines.
Drappier
AOP Champagne, Brut nature sans soufre NM (white)
An excellent, light cuvée of Pinot Noir. Fine and vibrant with subtle notes of toasted red fruits, a reinvigorating acidity and nice minerality.
AOP Champagne, Brut Nature rosé NM (rosé)
A vibrant rosé de saignée, with white fruits, more body and aromatic power. A great champagne.
AOP Champagne, Grande Sendrée 2008 (white)
55% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay
More character and autolyzed aromas than in the previous cuvées, this is visibly the house’s top cuvée! Very elegantly aged: vinous yet buttery, with a hint of bitterness on the finish, delicious!
Rijckaert (Burgundy and Jura)
AOP Côtes du Jura, Vigne des Voises 2017
100% Chardonnay, in quite a warm area for the region, vinified in the Burgundian way (casks and no oxidation. Silky and tender with lovely aromas of citrus fruit zest, white fruits, especially pear.
AOP Côtes du Jura, Savagnin Les Sarres 2016
Nice acidity, slight spices, butter and citrus fruits. A lovely, vibrant wine!
AOP Mâcon, Mâcon-Lugny, Les Crays vers Vaux 2017
A wine produced from limestone at 320m of altitude and East-facing, which generally produces cool wines! In 2017 however, the grapes saw a lot of sunshine, giving a generous, buttery texture, with white fruits such as peach and a slightly more exotic touch (mango?).
Château Léoville Poyferré
AOP Saint Estèphe, Château Le Crock 2016
A lovely nose with aromas of black fruits and nicely integrated tannins.
AOP Saint-Julien, Château Moulin Riche 2015 (red)
Our favourite wine of the three! A precise, chiseled wine with lots of black and red fruit with nice notes of undergrowth, an élevage in oak that has been nicely integrated, producing a silky wine with superb tannins. A powerful, complex wine.
AOP Saint-Julien Château Léoville Poyferré 2011 (red)
A refined wine with lots of red and black fruits, strong notes of mushroom and freshness probably linked to the vintage.
Château Lafon-Rochet
AOP Saint-Estèphe, Château Lafon Rochet 2006
A lovely nose with aromas of undergrowth, wilted roses and cedar. Autumnal forest fruits, a light touch of vanilla, nicely ‘melted’ tannins make this wine very refined and drinkable, with spice on the finish.
AOP Saint-Estèphe, Château Lafon-Rochet 2011
A fresher, ‘greener’ wine, with slightly less refined tannins, more rustic. Despite this, lovely freshness and aromas of black fruits and tobacco.
AOP Saint-Estèphe, Château Lafon Rochet 2014
Our absolute favourite 😊. A very clear-cut wine, less ‘supple’ than the 2011, with a elegant finesse and a silky texture. Its aromas, a combination of fruits and wilted flowers which evoke a autumn day. Eminently drinkable, the tannins are perfectly melted: excellent!
Château Troplong Mondot
AOP Saint Emilion grand cru, Mondot 2015
The domain’s second wine, 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc. Subtle on the nose and elegant.
AOP Saint Emilion grand cru, Château Troplong Mondot 2011
Lovely wine! Delicate, with aromas of undergrowth, forest fruits, humus, a light touch of truffle. Still a lot of aging potential. The tannins aren’t yet completely integrated but they’re elegant nevertheless; truly a great wine.
Château Lagrange
Les Fiefs de Lagrange 2011
A wine with a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) and Merlot (34%). Red and black fruits on the nose. No aromas of élevage as the vin aged for 12 months in barrels already used for two wines. Well-rounded on the palate with a nice freshness.
Château Lagrange 2011
Already a nice complexity on the nose; the wine is starting to open. The tannins are silky and there’s a freshness typical of the 2011 vintage on the palate.
Château Lagrange 2005
2005 was a sunny year: this is reflected in the wine. In comparison with the previous vintage, the nose of warmer and more ‘alcoholic’. This wine has a bright future ahead of it.
Château Siran
AOP Margaux, Château Siran 2014
Unusual blend for the appellation, with 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot. On the nose, intense aromas of red and black fruits, cedar and a touch of graphite. There is a spicy element also, probably from the Petit Verdot. Lovely balance of finesse and power on the palate.
AOP Margaux, S de Siran 2014
The château’s second wine with a majority of Merlot (80%) completed by Cabernet Sauvignon (20%). Lovely nose, fruity and rich on the palate, with freshness and quite a saline finish.
AOP Bordeaux Supérieur, St Jacques de Siran 2015
40% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Franc, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon. On the nose, red and black fruits (blackcurrant, strawberry) with hints of coffee. Supple and velvety.
Stars et Découvertes
This tasting brings together wines under the Languedoc and Roussillon appellations. “Stars” is a nod to the iconic, well-known producers in the region whereas “Découvertes” (discoveries) refers to new, up and coming producers.
Coume del Mas
Collioure Folio 2018: 100% Grenache Gris. Elevage in barrels. A fresh white wine with a nice aromaticity. Incredible tension.
Farniente 2017: A true gastronomic rosé with a light colour. Blend of Grenache Noir and Grenache Gris. Lovely freshness. Only 1,000 bottles produced per year.
Collioure Schistes 2017: 100% Grenache. Very fresh on the nose, with spices and aromas of garrigue. From a schist terroir. A deep wine with lovely tannins.
Collioure Abysses 2016: A concentrated cuvée of Syrah. A lively nose with aromas of spices and toasted notes from the élevage. Powerful and tannic.
Galateo Rimage (Banyuls Vintage) 2017: A modern Banyuls, not much élevage. Very fruity, stone fruits (cherry, plum, prunes). Six months in barrels. Very pleasant.
Banyuls ambré: oxidative aromas of walnut with a very long, impressive finish.
Mas Amiel
Altayr 2015 (white): blend of Grenache Gris/Blanc and Maccabeu, vegetal and fresh
Origine 2016: old vines of Grenache, Carignan and Syrah. Fruity and powerful with strong tannins.
Vers le Nord Maury 2017: selection of parcels of Grenache/Syrah. Schist terroir. Nose with prune, cherry. Floral notes of rose. A certain bitterness of the palate but still very fresh.
Maury rouge Vintage 2014: nose: jammy fruits, fresh. Sweet and very aromatic. Eminently drinkable.
Maury Vintage blanc 2017: 100% Grenache blanc. Floral aromas and a lovely sweet freshness.
Mas Amiel VDN 1969: Grenache. Amber robe. Raised in glass bonbonnes then casks from 1971. Aromas of cocoa, coffee, caramel and bitter orange with incredible freshness. A true sipping wine.
Mas Champart
IGP Pays d’Oc 2017: In Saint Chignan, 70% Terret, 30% Grenache Blanc. Aromas of pear, well-rounded with low acidity, reminded me of a Condrieu.
IGP Pays d’OC: an easy-drinking wine of 90% Cabernet Franc and sole Carignan. Very fruity.
Côte du Bousquet 2015: produced from Syrah planted on limestone, this wine has perfect tannins. Fresh, light texture, balanced by ripe fruits and spices. A great wine!
Côte du Bousquet 2016: sublime aromas of ripe raspberry, a pleasant roundness. One of our favourites of the day.
Clos de la Simonette 2016: 65% Mourvèdre. Quite a “warm” wine, with good aging potential. I’d like to taste this wine again in a few years’ time, to see the final result.
Domaine de Montcalmès
Terrasses du Larzac 2016: 60% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre. An excellent wine! Delicious with suave tannins. Notes of red and black fruits and a slight touch of liquorice and garrigue.
