The first step is the read the information from Nicole and prepare 3 questions for wine study on Tuesday evening in Three Lakes. Test your knowledge of Bordeaux
Tuesday will be a busy day as the morning will also involve wine study with my wine study group. Dennis Kohl picked these 6 wines for us to sample.
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- Chateau Grand Clapeau Oliver Cru 2012 Bourgeois Haute-Medoc
- Chateau Sainte Barbe 2011 Appelation Bordeaux Superieur Controllee
- Chateau La Graviere 2014 Appellation Bordeaux Controllee
- Chateau Ferrande 2010 Grand Vin De Bordeaux Graves Appellation Graves Controlee
- Chateau Ferrande Graves 2014 Grand Vin De Bordeaux
- Chateau La Graviere 2016 Entre-Deux-Mers Grand Vin De Bordeaux
- Butternut Squash Casserole with Leeks, Proscuitto and Thyme
- Venison chops with a sage mushroom and onion side dish. Dianne's friends killed the deer just a few weeks ago. The chops were amazing and paired SO well with the Bordeaux.
- Arugula Salad with Lemon & Parmesan. This was an excellent pairing with the white Bordeaux, especially the Chateau Ferrande Graves 2014 Grand Vin De Bordeaux
- Cheeses to consider: Manchego, Swiss, White Cheddar, Provolone, Pepper Jack. We sampled white cheddar and the red Bordeaux, excellent!
**** Chateau Grand Clapeau Oliver 2012 Cru Bourgeois Haute-Medoc Appellation Haute-Medoc Controllee 13% abv $22.99Varietal blend: 54% Cabernet Savignon, 43% Merlot 3% Petit Verdot
Left Bank
Terroir: greveleux
Wine making: Traditional vinification of the Médoc with thermoregulation. Stainless steel tanks and cement, maceration 2 to 3 weeks
My tasting notes
Garnet in color with licorice, cinnamon and red cherry fruit on the nose. The palate is dry, medium acidity, tannin, body and finish. The flavor is of black cherries, cloves and chocolate. A beautiful well balanced wine and one of the favorites.
Another great pairing would be with a roast dinner.
Information about the vineyard
Chateau Grand Clapeau has been owned by the Baudinière family since 1923. It is located on the highest hill of the Blanquefort district, on gravel soils that are perfect for ripening Cabernet Sauvignon.
My Tasting Notes
This was not a group favorite though I will say that I enjoyed it more the next day. For me it was barnyard meaty aroma that did me in. I also picked up sweet cherry, vanilla, a little leather and licorice. On the palate the wine was dry, with low acidity, medium tannin, body and finish. I didn't find very many flavor nuances. It tasted of black cherry and farmyard again. I have since learned that this due to a yeast know as "Brett" formally known as Brettanomyces
*** Chateau Ferrande 2010 Grand Vin De Bordeaux Graves Appellation Graves Controlee 13.5% abv $28.99
I liked this wine though it was the least favorite of the group. It tasted even better the next day. Excellent pairing with the white cheddar cheese.
**** Chateau Ferrande Graves 2014 Grand Vin De Bordeaux 12.5% abv $28.99
My Tasting Notes:
A beautiful deep lemon color with fresh aromas of lemon, green apple, grapefruit and grass. On the palate, dry, high acid, low tannin, light body and short finish. The flavors were of green apple grapefruit and nectarine. I love how the sav blanc adds zing to the Semillion.
We paired this with the arugula salad with lemon and Parmesan cheese. The wine made the salad less bitter and sharp. It also pared very well with scallops.
I liked this wine and would buy it again. Dennis said it would age well.
More information about the vineyard.
My Tasting Notes:
This was the group's favorite white. It was a pale lemon color with aromas of violet, pear and light perfume. The palate was dry, high acid and light body. The flavor was apricot.
More information about the vineyard.
- A classic left bank blend, it’s hand crafted from 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. The dash of Petit Verdot adds both depth and a spicy herbaceousness that give a perfect balance of flavours
- Château Grand Clapeau is a cru bourgeois estate -a category for the finest estates not classified in 1855. At their best, cru bourgeois wines can be better than some of the much more famous and more expensive classed growths
- The Baudinière family use traditional Médoc techniques with subtle oak ageing adding spicy cedar and vanilla complexity
***** Chateau Sainte Barbe 2011 Appelation Bordeaux Superieur Controllee
14% abv $16.99
Varietals: 70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc Right Bank
14% abv $16.99
Varietals: 70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc Right Bank
Information from Dennis Kohl: Fermented in concrete and stainless steel vats. Aged 9-12 months in oak barrels. From a family owned estate that was built by Jean Baptiste Lynch (Ch. Lynch Bages) in the mid to late 18th century. It was Lynches first vineyard and chateau.
My Tasting Notes
I will start by saying this our favorite wine. I loved the aroma: cherry, vanilla, nutmeg, licorice and juniper berry. On the palate it was dry, low acidity, medium tannin, body and finish. The flavors were black cherry, juniper and chocolate.
I will start by saying this our favorite wine. I loved the aroma: cherry, vanilla, nutmeg, licorice and juniper berry. On the palate it was dry, low acidity, medium tannin, body and finish. The flavors were black cherry, juniper and chocolate.
It’s unique location on the peninsula between the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers allowed it to avoid the phylloxera epidemic that wiped out most of the Bordeaux vineyards in the late 1800’s. Today its 70+ acres of gravelly alluvial soil vineyards on the right bank of the Garonne are about 50% replanted and consist of 80% of the Merlot with the remaining 20% divided between Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc
This 2011 is a blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. It was recommended by World’s Best Sommelier Andres Larsson who described it as “Dense ruby/purple core. Modern nose of ripe plum, dark berries and some new oak. The palate has a fairly good density, fresh dark berries, plum, some roasted notes, spices and a rather longfinish. Well made with nice drinkability.” It was also a stand out among wine retailers who gave it a whopping 95 points score in Beverage Dynamics Magazine and said “Robust and earthy with bold aromas and flavors of blackberry, currant and vanilla. On the finish, firm tannins show with a good dose of terroir. Pair this with roast beef, lamb or a thick steak.” A super wine at an great price!
This 2011 is a blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. It was recommended by World’s Best Sommelier Andres Larsson who described it as “Dense ruby/purple core. Modern nose of ripe plum, dark berries and some new oak. The palate has a fairly good density, fresh dark berries, plum, some roasted notes, spices and a rather longfinish. Well made with nice drinkability.” It was also a stand out among wine retailers who gave it a whopping 95 points score in Beverage Dynamics Magazine and said “Robust and earthy with bold aromas and flavors of blackberry, currant and vanilla. On the finish, firm tannins show with a good dose of terroir. Pair this with roast beef, lamb or a thick steak.” A super wine at an great price!
Chateau La Graviere 2014 Appellation Bordeaux Controllee 12.5% abv $12.99
Varietals: 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvgnon, 15% Cabernet Franc.
Vinification: stainless steel fermentation for 4 weeks. Tank aged until bottled. Grapes hand sorted in vineyard
Notes from Dennis Kohl: Chateau NardineLa Graviere, producer of Chateua La Graviere, is an 89 acre winery situated in Bordeaux at the heart of the Entre-deax-Mers region. The vineyard is located 25km from the center of Bordeaux and 30 km from Saint Emilion in the little village of Saint Gebes de Lombard. Chateau La Graviere is made up of exceptional terroir for vine growing and production of quality wines. In fact, the Entres-deux-Mers region is hilly and has many types of soil allowing to obtain aromatic wines. Family owned since 1928, the Therese family is passionate about their wine making and have been for three generations.
My Tasting Notes
This was not a group favorite though I will say that I enjoyed it more the next day. For me it was barnyard meaty aroma that did me in. I also picked up sweet cherry, vanilla, a little leather and licorice. On the palate the wine was dry, with low acidity, medium tannin, body and finish. I didn't find very many flavor nuances. It tasted of black cherry and farmyard again. I have since learned that this due to a yeast know as "Brett" formally known as Brettanomyces
*** Chateau Ferrande 2010 Grand Vin De Bordeaux Graves Appellation Graves Controlee 13.5% abv $28.99
Varietals: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot.
The wine is aged for 12 months in oak barrels (50% new wood)
My tasting notes:
The aromas were very nuanced. I found dark cherry and my friends found blackberry. There was also juniper berry and vanilla along with chocolate. In addition, a slight barn yard smell. One review I read used the word empyrheumatic. The Meriam Webster definition is being or having an odor of burnt organic matter as a result of decomposition at high temperatures creosote and other empyreumatic oils
Garnet in color. On the palate: dry, high acid, medium tannin, medium body and medium finish. The flavor was of ripe blueberry, licorice, chocolate and white pepper.
More information about the vineyard.
The vineyard of Château Ferrande, which gives birth to this cuvee of Graves, covers 89 hectares and benefits from the terroir so particular of the appellation whose soils consist mainly of sands and gravels rich in large surface pebbles, the latter ensuring good drainage Soils and, once the sun is down, a generous restitution of the heat of the day.
In the heart of the Graves
The identity of a great wine is a marriage between a good grape variety and an exceptional terroir ... In the heart of the Graves, Château Ferrande benefits from this so special terroir renowned as one of the largest in the region . Its soil consists mainly of sands and gravel including large pebbles on the surface. Very draining, warm at night, this soil is conducive to rapid maturities and the production of elegant and stylish wines. The high planting density allows to obtain grapes with a high potential of aromas and finesse while ensuring a good concentration.
Property of the Castel Group since 1992, the Château Ferrande located in the town of Castres sur Gironde has 94 hectares in the Graves appellation (including 5 dedicated to the production of white wine) spread over gravelly soil. The estate has an ultramodern winery, including a very mild press.
2 WHITE WINES
**** Chateau Ferrande Graves 2014 Grand Vin De Bordeaux 12.5% abv $28.99
Varietals: 50% Sauvignon Blanc 50% Semillion
Information from Dennis Kohl:
Soil: large pebbles on top of sand and gravel subsoil
Location: Village of Castres sur Gironde in the heart of Graves
Fermentation: Stainless steel. Tank aged
Vineyard 25 - 30 year old vines
My Tasting Notes:
A beautiful deep lemon color with fresh aromas of lemon, green apple, grapefruit and grass. On the palate, dry, high acid, low tannin, light body and short finish. The flavors were of green apple grapefruit and nectarine. I love how the sav blanc adds zing to the Semillion.
We paired this with the arugula salad with lemon and Parmesan cheese. The wine made the salad less bitter and sharp. It also pared very well with scallops.
I liked this wine and would buy it again. Dennis said it would age well.
More information about the vineyard.
Chateau Ferrande is situated in the village of Castres-Gironde, at the heart of the Graves region. The chateau itself is a fine manor house, rebuilt at the end of the 19th century on an estate whose origins date much further back in history, Access is by an avenue lines with cedar trees, and the estate is enclosed by a fortified roughstone wall which serves as a reminder of its historical heritage. Nearly 90 hectacres are given over to vines producing a wine which is a member of the highly coveted Union des Grand Crus
***** Chateau La Graviere 2016 Entre-Deux-Mers Grand Vin De Bordeaux
12.5% abv $9.99
12.5% abv $9.99
Varietals: 35% Sauvignon Blanc, 55% Semillon, 10% Muscadelle.
Information from Dennis Kohl
Soil: Siliceous, clay & pebbles
Location: Sait Genes de Lombard - heart of the Entre deux Mers region
Harvest: Mechanical harvest, followed by selection of fruits by hand
Maceration & Pressing: Maceration on skins at low temperatures. Pneumatic pressing.
Fermentation: temperature controlled stainless steel vat. Fermentation from 20 days at 64 F.
Wine Making Mature on lees until bottling. Stirring of the lees twice a week for 2 months.
My Tasting Notes:
This was the group's favorite white. It was a pale lemon color with aromas of violet, pear and light perfume. The palate was dry, high acid and light body. The flavor was apricot.
More information about the vineyard.
The AOC Entre-Deux-Mers extends over the entire wine-making region of Gironde between the Dordogne and the Garonne, hence its name. The soils are predominantly clay and limestone. In this fragmented vineyard region, there are many wine growers and low average areas of exploitation. Producers can pamper their vineyards. They often belong to cooperatives who take care of winemaking. Sauvignon is the king grape of the Entre-deux-Mers. It is often the subject of specific work during winemaking, skin maceration. This gives very fragrant wines, lively, but without excess of nervousness, well balanced and endowed with a beautiful aromatic power. Sauvignon is mainly associated with Sémillon, which gives roundness and power ...
Sauvignon is the king grape of the Entre-deux-Mers. It is often the subject of specific work during winemaking, skin maceration. This gives very fragrant wines, lively, but without excess of nervousness, well balanced and endowed with a beautiful aromatic power. Sauvignon is mainly associated with Sémillon, which gives roundness and power. As an extra varietal blend, Muscadelle brings very pleasant wild and musky notes.
The wines of Entre-deux-Mers are exclusively white. Their aromatic palette plays with notes of citrus, yellow flowers, exotic fruits. On the palate, they are supple, lively and refreshingly refreshing.
The wines of Entre-deux-Mers are exclusively white. Their aromatic palette plays with notes of citrus, yellow flowers, exotic fruits. On the palate, they are supple, lively and refreshingly refreshing.
Another reference: https://daily.sevenfifty.com/regions/bordeaux/
