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Botrytis in Montrachet
Montrachet is the King of White Burgundy, this hallowed vineyard yields some of the finest white wines in the world. From my far and few between experiences with Montrachet, I have noticed some Montrachet Grand Cru wines display a small amount of botrytis flavours, but it varies significantly across vintages and producers. What is Botrytis? Botrytis cinerea (also known as noble rot) is a fungi that causes grapes to become partially ‘raisined‘. This fungi strives at warm and humid climate. The effect of raisined grape concentrates the sugar and acidity of the grape and are very desirable when making sweet wines in regions like Sauternes, Tokaji, etc. Botrytis also introduce…
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Bollinger Vieilles Vignes Francaises 2006
The Vieillies Vignes Françaises Blanc de Noirs is the prestigious cuvée of Bollinger, made exclusively from two single vineyards in Aÿ, Chaudes Terres and Clos St Jacques. These are the only two remaining vineyards of Bollinger that are untouched by phylloxera, 100% Pinot Noir, a total size of 0.36 hectares. Tasting Note Tasted blind – An intriguingly complex and vibrant profile of rich berries, exotic fruits, spiced brioche and vanilla. There is so much depth and concentration already just from the nose. Pinot driven flavours of red fruits, toasted nuts, and a lifted bouquet of spiced wood. Serious intensity and latent energy that resonates on the palate. Only 3,300 bottles…
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Domaine Ramonet
Domaine Ramonet is one of the finest producers in Burgundy, known for the Chardonnay from Chassagne Montrachet village to Montrachet Grand Cru. Domaine Ramonet has been producing consistently high quality Chardonnay in Chassagne Montrachet for 3 generations, it is difficult to talk about Chassagne Montrachet without mentioning Ramonet. Brief History Pierre Ramonet came to Burgundy in the late 1920s with nothing more than a knapsack, he started off buying grapes and vinifying them, then later buying his first vineyard in the 1930s. Domaine Ramonet gained a lot of attention very soon after bottling his first wines in his estate. Clive Cotes even wrote ‘Ramonet in white is the equivalent of…
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Pol Roger Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill
Prestige Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill is the flagship wine of Pol Roger Champagne. It is one of the highly regarded prestige Pinot Noir driven Champagnes. Brief History Winston Churchill met Madame Odette Pol-Roger in Paris over lunch at the British Embassy a few months after the liberation of Paris, Pol Roger 1928 (allegedly one of the best vintages of the century in Champagne) was shared and friendship was born. Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill was created in 1975 and first released in 1984 in honour of Sir Winston Churchill, who was a devotee of Pol Roger Champagnes. Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill are only released in great vintages, at the…
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Domaine Leflaive 2015
An extensive tasting note on 2015 Domaine Leflaive from the midweek-drinking Macon-Verze to the highly regarded Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru. It was a pleasure to taste the 2015 Domaine Leflaive wines with Brice de La Morandière, the managing director of Domaine Leflaive. Brice is also the nephew of the late Anne-Claude Leflaive, he was appointed position by shareholders after the death of Anne-Claude Leflaive. Vintage Note 2015 was a warm and sunny vintage in Burgundy, most producers made excellent wines from Pinot Noir. White wine producers had to work hard this year to avoid making flabby and overripe wines. Since World War II, there has only been three vintages where…
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The Disappearing Jacky Truchot
Domaine Jacky Truchot, or sometimes seen as Domaine Truchot-Martin is one of the legendary producers in Burgundy. Jacky Truchot is famed for producing incredibly pure and fragrant Pinot Noir from Morey Saint Denis as well as a few Gevrey Chambertin and a Chambolle Musigny. Sadly Jacky Truchot retired after the 2005 vintage and sold all except one of his vineyards to David Duband through an investor. Jacky kept a small section of his Morey Saint Denis 1er Cru Les Sorbes for his own consumption. 2005 was the last vintage of Jacky Truchot wines that are commercially available, his wines are as rare as hen’s teeth. Brief History Jacky Truchot joined…
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Quinta do Tedo Port
Quinta do Tedo, a small winery (Quinta in Portuguese) located in the heart of Douro River, at the confluence of Tedo and Douro river. Their estate offers a stunning view that overlooks the Douro river and the impressively sleep slopes of vineyards. Brief History Vincent Bouchard, who was originally from Burgundy purchased Quinta do Tedo in 1992 after hiking through Douro River with his wife, Kay. Vincent Bouchard is the son of Joseph Bouchard, the co-director of Bouchard Père & Fils, they are also related to William Fevre in Chablis. Naturally, winemaking is in his blood. After purchasing the rundown estate that was built in the 18th Century, Vincent and…
