Winemaker Notes
Ruby / purple color, the intense and complex nose reveals hints of black fruit, brioche bread. The attack is vivid and velvety. The mid-palate enhanced the black fruit notes, unveiled firstly on the nose and some toasty notes. The wine is juicy and fleshy with elegant tannins. Final on the length.
About Winery
In 1826, Hugh Barton, already proprietor of Chateau Langoa, purchased part of the big Leoville estate. His part then became known as Léoville Barton. Six generations of Bartons have since followed, and continued to preserve the quality of the wine, classified as a Second Growth in 1855.
In 1983, Anthony Barton, the present owner, was given the property by his uncle Ronald Barton who had himself inherited it in 1929. Anthony Barton's daughter Lilian Barton Sartorius now helps her father in managing the estate. Together, they maintain the traditional methods of winemaking, producing a typical Saint-Julien of elegance and distinction. The Château Léoville Barton is the property of the Barton’s family and Lilian Barton Sartorius manages it with her two children, Mélanie and Damien.
Winemaker Notes
Ruby / purple color, the intense and complex nose reveals hints of black fruit, brioche bread. The attack is vivid and velvety. The mid-palate enhanced the black fruit notes, unveiled firstly on the nose and some toasty notes. The wine is juicy and fleshy with elegant tannins. Final on the length.
About Winery
Chateau Langoa-Barton, 3rd Classified Growth, was the first of the two Bordeaux wine estates bought by Hugh Barton in the 1820s, the other being Leoville-Barton, 2nd Classified Growth.
Hugh Barton was a descendant of an Irish family which settled in Bordeaux in the 18th century and which has a long and distinguished history in the region's wine trade. Both properties are still family-owned and run and together represent the longest tradition of unchanged ownership in the Medoc. Anthony Barton is the current proprietor but is gradually passing the reins to his daughter Lillian. Langoa Barton has 20 hectares of vineyards (Cabernet Sauvignon 71%, Merlot 21% and Cabernet Franc 8%) lie on gravelly-clay soils. Vinification includes 18 months' maturation in oak barriques (50% new). Langoa Barton is vinified and matured in exactly the same way as Leoville-Barton and any difference between them must be put down to variations in the soils and exposure of their respective vineyard blocks.
Both Langoa and Leoville wines are models of typical St Julien restraint and elegance, and Anthony's fair pricing policy, always with an eye to the long term has won him many loyal friends amongst his customers. For years, Langoa Barton was considered slightly lighter and more forward than Leoville. However, in the last decade it has become noticeably deeper in colour and richer and more concentrated on the palate. Langoa Barton is now often the equal of Leoville.
Winemaker Notes
Dark, dense ruby color. Nose with concentrated ripe cherry fruit. On the palate, dense and opulent, beautiful sweetness, slightly oriental spice, very noticeable acidity, fine tannins. Has bite and pressure, good finish.
About Winery
Chateau Gracia is produces garage-style (aka "vins de garage") St-Emilion wines from a 4.4-acre vineyard with microscopic yields of 18-22 hectoliters per hectare (400-550 cases). Michel Gracia the proprietor is good friends with Ausone’s Alain Vauthier, produces wines that have much in common with the lushness and concentration of Ausone. Founded in 1997, Michel is a first-generation immigrant, originating from Spain. After less then a decade since his first crush, Michel was already recognized by Robert Parker as one of the twenty best wine estates in France in 2006. Vineyards Vines cover just 1.9-hectares of clayey/limestone soil, planted with 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and an average age of vine at just under thirty years. Yields are kept low, down to a paltry 21hl/ha. There is another 1.26- hectares parcel on more sandy soil planted with 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc which is the source of "Les Angelots de Gracia".
Winemaker Notes
The blackcurrants and blueberries with violets on the nose are fascinating. Full-bodied and very tightly wound with gorgeous tannins and a linear and bright finish. Needs two to four years to come together.
About Winery
Château Haut-Batailley, Fifth Grand Cru Classé in the 1855 Official Classification, is a benchmark in the Pauillac appellation. Its name is derived from the word "bataille" (battle), in memory of the fighting that is said to have taken place on the estate at the end of the Hundred Years' War in the 15th century.
Since 2017, Château Haut-Batailley has been run by the Cazes family, who are continuing the work begun by the Borie family in 1930 while carrying forward the style and quality of this key Médoc cru on the Left Bank of the Bordeaux region.
Winemaker Notes
Very intense, remarkable, garnet-red colour. The nose shows impressively ripe fruit, concentration, and complexity. This is the epitome of a wine made from grapes with just the right degree of maturity. The wine starts out generous, sweet, and broad-based on the palate, going on seamlessly to reveal increasing body and power. The class, breeding, and sophistication of the tannin are obvious. 2016 La Mission Haut-Brion is certainly the most complete and charming the château has made in a long time.
Chateau La Mission Haut Brion
Château La Mission Haut-Brion is a world-renowned winery located in the prestigious Pessac-Léognan appellation in the Bordeaux region of France. It holds a special place in the history of Bordeaux wines due to its exceptional quality and long-standing heritage. The estate is known for producing top-tier red wines, and its wine is often regarded as one of the most sought-after in the region.
Winemaker Notes
The 2015 winegrowing year was marked by striking contrasts in climate, starting with a particularly cold spring, followed by a prolonged period of hot, dry weather that lasted until the end of August. When the harvest began on 7 September, in brilliant sunshine, the vines were impeccably healthy, revealing the exceptional generosity and balance of the grapes. This vintage aromatic wine promises a remarkable aromatic richness, capturing the unique essence of the year.
About Winery
Dom Pierre Pérignon, a French Benedictine monk, set out his vision to "create the best wine in the world" when he became Cellar Master at the sacred Abbey of Hautvillers in 1668. Dom Pérignon dedicated over 40 years to this mission, employing a visionary spirit and daring approach to the wine making process. Over that time, he became known as the "father of champagne" for laying down the fundamental rules for the traditional Champagne production method (La Methode Champenoise or Traditionelle). A favored wine of the Sun King Louis XIV, Dom Pérignon himself compared his wine to "drinking stars".
Dom Pérignon: an absolute commitment to VintageDom Pérignon's commitment to vintage is absolute. Each Dom Pérignon is a true act of creation, made from only the best grapes. The champagne's intensity is based in precision, so inviting, so mysterious. Each Vintage has three Plénitudes, and embodies the total faith in the creation that is constantly renewed by Chef de Cave Vincent Chaperon. Coupled with a bold sense of playfulness, Dom Pérignon inspires the greatest creators in the world.Made only from the best grapes grown in one single year, each Dom Perignon's Vintage represents a harmonic balance between the nature of the year and the signature of Dom Pérignon. After no fewer than 8 years of elaboration, each vintage emerges complete, seamless and tactile. Dom Pérignon Champagne is made through an assemblage of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, created by using only the best grapes harvested from the 17 Grands Crus in Champagne and the Premier Cru of Hautvillers.
Winemaker Notes
Dark purple, almost black. On the nose, concentrated scent of cooked berries and plums with hints of cedar wood and smoky notes. Full and dense on the palate with massive ripe tannins and a long finish.The 8.5 hectare winery is planted with 80% Merlot and 10% each Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. It belongs to the Peres family, which owns, among other things, the Top Saint Emillion Château Pavi. The wine is aged for 18-24 months in new barriques.
About Winery
Purchased in 2001 by Gérard Perse - Château Pavie, Pavie-Decesse, Monbousquet, Bellevue-Mondotte - Clos Lunelles shines with its vision of excellence, anchored to a first-class terroir composed of clay and limestone, in the natural extension of the Saint-Emilion limestone plateau. With state-of-the-art viticulture and ambitious technical means, the wines are a perfect example of concentrated yet elegant Bordeaux.
The Clos Lunelles vineyard covers 8.5 hectares of vines, composed of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. As at Gérard Perse’s other properties, everything has been done in the vineyard to obtain low yields and perfect maturity. Traditional and precise vinification and long maturation followed by 18 months in French oak barrels (50% new) without fining or filtering give a complex bouquet of black fruits and a rich, deep and substantial structure.
Tended by Robert Parker himself, Clos Lunelles expresses without reserve the style of a straightforward wine, built for immediate pleasure.
Winemaker Notes
The grapes for this vintage were magnificent and fermentation took place quickly. The wines immediately showed plenty of color and a complete array of very intense aromas ranging from red and black fruit to spice and incense.The tannins are generally very well-rounded, dense and seamlessly smooth. After blending, the wines still have the same aromatic intensity and complex, full-bodied structures which barrel-maturing should further enhance.
About Winery
Chateau Mouton Rothschild, a Premier Cru Classé from the Bordeaux region and one of the world's greatest wines, is owned by Baroness Philippine de Rothschild. The estate includes 205 acres of vines at Pauillac planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (77%), Merlot (11%), Cabernet Franc (10%) and Petit Verdot (2%).
In 1853, Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild bought Chateau Brane-Mouton. In 1922, his great-grandson Baron Philippe de Rothschild (1902-1988) decided to take the future of the estate into his own hands. His 65 years at Mouton bear witness to the strength of his personality, his spirit of enterprise and his sense of innovation.
In 1922, he was the first to introduce chateau bottling. In 1926, he built the famous Grand Chai, the majestic 100-meter first year cellar, which has become a major attraction for visitors to Mouton. 1945 marked the start of a fascinating collection of works of art, created every year for the Mouton label by famous painters. In 1973, after a twenty-year battle, Baron Philippe obtained a revision of the 1855 classification and Mouton was officially recognized as a First Growth.
In 1988, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild succeeded her father Baron Philippe. She has become the guarantor of the quality of an illustrious wine whose motto proudly proclaims, "First I am, second I was, I Mouton do not change."
Winemaker Notes
A wine of good density ruby red, with brown, mahogany, biscuit hints. It has maintained its luster and clarity. The rim is fairly thick. The tears are fine, clear, abundant and regular. At once expressive, forthright and complex. There are notes of all families of fragrance: fruit, flowers, and spices. Taste: The attack is forthright, round and suave, soothing even. The intense aromas initially recall the complexity of the nose. There is leather and lightly charred wood, and roasted notes. The beauty of the vintage is revealed by its elegance rather than its full-flavor. The wine has an attractive aromatic range with a finish of remarkable elegance.
About WineryChateau Pape Clément owes its name to its most illustrious owner. A man of the cloth born in 1264, Bertrand de Goth became Bishop of Comminges, in the Pyrenees Mountains, at the age of 31; he later became Archbishop of Bordeaux in 1299.
He then received as a gift the property in Pessac, the Vineyard de La Mothe. Taken by a passion for the vine, he continually took part personally in equipping, organizing and managing the domain in accordance with the most modern and rational practices. Nevertheless, on 5 June 1305 the cardinals met in a conclave in Pérouse and appointed him to succeed Pope Benedict XI, who had passed away prematurely after only eleven months of reign. Bertrand de Goth took the name of Clement V.
Supported by Philip IV, it was he who decided in 1309 to move the papal court to Avignon, thus breaking with Rome and its battles of influence. During this same period, the weight of his responsibilities led him to relinquish his property, giving it to the Archbishop of Bordeaux. Henceforward, the vineyard was to be known to posterity under the name of this enlightened pope.
Management under the clergy brings modernity The grateful Church perpetuated Pope Clement's work. Each archbishop in turn turned to modernity and technical progress, to the point of the wine estate becoming a model vineyard. In addition to especially early harvests, which remain one of its special characteristics, Chateau Pape Clément is without a doubt the first vineyard in France to align vine stock to facilitate labour.
At the end of the 18th century, the Archbishop of Bordeaux was dispossessed of his property. The papal vineyard became part of the public domain.
8 June 1937 was a dark day in the vineyard's history, when a violent hailstorm destroyed virtually the entirety of the estate. Two years later, Paul Montagne bought it and gradually brought it back to life. Thanks to his efforts, the vineyard returned to its former rank and stood up to the surge in urbanization. His descendents, Léo Montagne and Bernard Magrez, perpetuate this secular tradition so that Chateau Pape Clément wines continue to delight the wine-lovers of today and tomorrow.
Winemaker Notes
Colour: deep and bright. Nose: beautiful aromatic complexity dominated by red fruits. Notes of cedar and spice are revealed upon aeration. Palate: The attack is marked, leading in to a fleshy, powerful mid-palate. There is a fine balance between the freshness of the aromas and the density of the tannins. The finish reveals superb aromatic persistence worthy of a great vintage of Leoville Poyferré. 2015, the number 5 keeps its promise.
About Winery
With origins dating back to 1638, Léoville was the largest vineyard in the Médoc region at the time of the French Revolution. Léoville Poyferré springs from various divisions and successions in 1840. Its outstanding quality wines gained early recognition when it was ranked 2nd Growth in the 1855 classification. Château Léoville Poyferré was acquired in 1920 by the Cuvelier family. Château Léoville Poyferré was the Léoville that got left in the starting blocks in terms of reputation and in the quality of its wines. Léoville Poyferré has been owned by the Cuvelier family (who also own Château Le Crock) since 1921, yet it was not until the 1970s, when Didier Cuvelier took control at the château, that quality began to improve. In the last 20 years, Didier, with the assistance of Michel Rolland since 1995, has turned Léoville-Poyferré into one of StJulien's finest estates. Now up with the best of the St-Juliens but still selling at nonscary prices. Léoville Poyferré is classified as a 2ème Cru Classé
Winemaker Notes
Very beautiful, deep, garnet-red color. The nose is ripe and concentrated. After swirling in the glass, it becomes more complex with hints of very ripe – but not excessively so – red and black fruit. There are also liquorice nuances and a soupçon of clove. The wine starts out with a very soft mouth feel and immediately shows tremendous volume and depth in every respect, with flavors reminiscent of ripe fruit and cocoa beans. The long aftertaste features mocha and slightly bitter coffee nuances. Barrel ageing will undoubtedly bring out more of this wine's greatness and confirm its place among the finest vintages of Château Haut-Brion.
About Winery
Château Haut-Brion's history spans five centuries, starting with Jean de Pontac's acquisition of the domain in 1521. He defined the estate's vineyards and built the château in 1549. The property was further developed by his descendants, and its wines gained renown among British aristocrats and authors, including Samuel Pepys, who wrote about them in 1663. Thomas Jefferson also visited and praised the estate's wines. In the 1930s, the property was acquired by the Dillon family, and is still managed by the Dillon family today.
Winemaker Notes
Concentrated and candied citrus fruit mingle delicately with notes of grain and lightly roasted almonds. Fruity palate with a silky texture, complemented by soft bubbles that are perfectly integrated and deliciously elegant. The purity and perfection of the ripe yellow fruit melt into the intense chalky freshness, typical of Cristal, that is both powdery and saline. Dense, juicy, concentrated and long on the mid-palate, thanks to the spicy and sappy structure resulting from partial ageing in large oak vats. The finish builds to a crescendo, revealing a rich grainy and velvety texture that is wrapped in a long, saline and superbly elegant finish.
About Winery
Louis Roederer is a prestigious French champagne house with a history spanning over two centuries, known for its independent, family-owned structure and commitment to quality. Founded in 1776 as Dubois Père & Fils and later renamed in 1833 by Louis Roederer, the house has been passed down through generations of the Roederer family (and now the Rouzaud family). A key aspect of the Roederer story is its dedication to estate vineyards, a practice that contrasts with some other Champagne houses who primarily source grapes from various plots. This dedication to quality and tradition has earned Louis Roederer a global reputation for its elegant and complex champagnes.
About Winery
Discover the all new Cuvée from Maison De Venoge : Champagne Princes Blanc de Blancs.This House resurrects the legendary Cuvée des Princes created in 1864 by Joseph de Venoge, in honor of the Princes of Orange. Its elegant bottles recalls the characteristic patterns of the great European aristocracy of the early 20th century, who decant Champagne in crystal bottles.
Exclusively elaborared with Premier and Grand Cru, Champagne Blanc de Blancs Princes has a beautiful minerality and a great aging potential. Subtle aromas of white flowers and citrus emphasize its freshness and elegance that will appeale specially during aperitif or with light starters.
A beautiful Cuvée de Prestige presented in a free gift box.
Winemaker Notes
The 2014 Château Hosanna, a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, showcases fascinating aromas of crushed raspberries, stones, and flowers. It's a full-bodied, dense, and concentrated wine with a structured and tight profile, featuring flavors of wet concrete and walnut skin.
About Winery
Situated in Libourne along the Dordogne River, the Etablissements Jean-Pierre Moueix, of which Chateau Hosanna is a part, was founded in 1937. It is internationally known for its expertise in the Bordeaux wines of Pomerol and Saint-Emilion.
The company began its history as a wine merchant, specializing in the wines from the right bank of Bordeaux. The founder, Jean-Pierre Moueix, became one of the most influential people of the area when he began investing in properties of the region in 1952. At this time, the vineyard owners had no control over the finished product, since the "négoce" (negociants) of Bordeaux controlled the bottling and the sales. Mr. Moueix understood the market and what needed to be done. He was a visionary. The company is now managed by his son, Christian.
Winemaker Notes
The 2014 has a beautiful deep colour. It starts out quite powerful on the palate and continues into a beautiful long aftertaste. There are hints of black fruit (blackberry and blackcurrant) and red fruit (cherries), and already such nuances as forest floor, incense and cedar. The warm (balsamic) overtones confirm the ripeness in 2014. The wine needs a few more years, about 8, to reach its peak. It will then display all the rare complexity of the finest Pomerols, with truffle, leathery, and meaty aromas. Its structure should enable it to “hold” for the next 15 years, i.e. until 2030.
About Winery
The Chateau Gazin vineyards cover 64.2 acres in a single lot, with 56.8 acres under vines, located on the renowned clay-gravel plateau of Pomerol. The estate can produce up to 100,000 bottles a year. A second AOC Pomerol wine "l’Hospitalet de Gazin", was created in 1986 in order to reserve the best of the harvest for Chateau Gazin.
The grapes are fermented in small cement vats. The wine is aged for 18 months in oak barrels (50% new) according to the Bordeaux tradition: malolactic fermentation in casks, rackings to separate the fine wine from the lees, fining with egg whites and, if necessary, light filtration.
Winemaker Notes
Deep, bright colour. The nose is subtle and complex. It reveals notes of red fruit, spices, and liquorice upon swirling. The palate is fresh and intense. It is fruity and fleshy on the palate. The finish is supported by fine, racy tannins that are long and integrated, and beautiful volume in the mouth. 2014, a harmonious vintage.
About Winery
With origins dating back to 1638, Léoville was the largest vineyard in the Médoc region at the time of the French Revolution. Léoville Poyferré springs from various divisions and successions in 1840. Its outstanding quality wines gained early recognition when it was ranked 2nd Growth in the 1855 classification. Château Léoville Poyferré was acquired in 1920 by the Cuvelier family. Château Léoville Poyferré was the Léoville that got left in the starting blocks in terms of reputation and in the quality of its wines. Léoville Poyferré has been owned by the Cuvelier family (who also own Château Le Crock) since 1921, yet it was not until the 1970s, when Didier Cuvelier took control at the château, that quality began to improve. In the last 20 years, Didier, with the assistance of Michel Rolland since 1995, has turned Léoville-Poyferré into one of StJulien's finest estates. Now up with the best of the St-Juliens but still selling at nonscary prices. Léoville Poyferré is classified as a 2ème Cru Classé
Winemaker Notes
A golden hue with soft, glowing highlights. Fine, steady, gentle bubbles. Powerful and complex on the palate, revealing a mixture of yellow fruit (mirabelle plum), juicy, ripe fruits (nectarine), citrus peel (candied orange) and finely-roasted nuts (hazelnut). The nose is simultaneously powdery and sweet, with elegant, chalky notes. Gentle, tactile and full-bodied on the palate. The bubbles create a gentle, vibrating sensation, then the wine becomes soft, dense and juicy. But it is the chalky freshness that quickly sets the tone: the sweetness becomes energetic and intense, giving the wine an elegant yet powerful texture. Fine, textured tannins reveal a poised and vinous dim
About Winery
Louis Roederer is a prestigious French champagne house with a history spanning over two centuries, known for its independent, family-owned structure and commitment to quality. Founded in 1776 as Dubois Père & Fils and later renamed in 1833 by Louis Roederer, the house has been passed down through generations of the Roederer family (and now the Rouzaud family). A key aspect of the Roederer story is its dedication to estate vineyards, a practice that contrasts with some other Champagne houses who primarily source grapes from various plots. This dedication to quality and tradition has earned Louis Roederer a global reputation for its elegant and complex champagnes.
Winemaker Notes
Lovely flowery bouquet with notes of acacia. The palate is well balanced with no harsh tannins indicating quite early maturity.
About Winery
In 1826, Hugh Barton, already proprietor of Chateau Langoa, purchased part of the big Leoville estate. His part then became known as Léoville Barton. Six generations of Bartons have since followed, and continued to preserve the quality of the wine, classified as a Second Growth in 1855.
In 1983, Anthony Barton, the present owner, was given the property by his uncle Ronald Barton who had himself inherited it in 1929. Anthony Barton's daughter Lilian Barton Sartorius now helps her father in managing the estate. Together, they maintain the traditional methods of winemaking, producing a typical Saint-Julien of elegance and distinction. The Château Léoville Barton is the property of the Barton’s family and Lilian Barton Sartorius manages it with her two children, Mélanie and Damien.
Winemaker Notes
The wine has a deep, glittering hue and a complex nose on which black fruit aromas mingle with graphite and spice notes. The structure on the palate is particularly dense and long, with chiselled tannins of incredible precision. A 2012 of remarkable purity and energy, with fantastic fruit and radiance that take it to the peak. For the first time, Pontet-Canet matured nearly a third of the vintage in concrete amphoras.
About Winery
Chateau Pontet Canet Pauillac 5th Grand Cru Classé, has enjoyed an irresistible rise to become one of the Médoc's most emblematic names. Managed by Justine and Alfred Tesseron, Château Pontet-Canet has established itself as one of the pioneers of biodynamic viticulture in the Pauillac appellation, with results that exceed all expectations. Vintage after vintage, the estate has established itself as one of the finest references on Bordeaux's Left Bank.
Winemaker Notes
Rich and complex aromas with notes of zesty and candied fruit (lemon) mingled with pollen (white flowers), roasted hazelnut and Madagascar vanilla. After aeration, the bouquet develops rich notes of fresh pastries and smoky notes from bottle ageing
About Winery
Louis Roederer is a prestigious French champagne house with a history spanning over two centuries, known for its independent, family-owned structure and commitment to quality. Founded in 1776 as Dubois Père & Fils and later renamed in 1833 by Louis Roederer, the house has been passed down through generations of the Roederer family (and now the Rouzaud family). A key aspect of the Roederer story is its dedication to estate vineyards, a practice that contrasts with some other Champagne houses who primarily source grapes from various plots. This dedication to quality and tradition has earned Louis Roederer a global reputation for its elegant and complex champagnes.
Winemaker Notes
Dense purple color. The wine has a powerful aroma with notes of violets, blackberries, currants, licorice and chocolate. Balanced taste of dark fruit, soft vanilla and nuts. Juicy with velvety tannins and a long, delicious finish.
About Winery
Chateau Langoa-Barton, 3rd Classified Growth, was the first of the two Bordeaux wine estates bought by Hugh Barton in the 1820s, the other being Leoville-Barton, 2nd Classified Growth.
Hugh Barton was a descendant of an Irish family which settled in Bordeaux in the 18th century and which has a long and distinguished history in the region's wine trade. Both properties are still family-owned and run and together represent the longest tradition of unchanged ownership in the Medoc. Anthony Barton is the current proprietor but is gradually passing the reins to his daughter Lillian. Langoa Barton has 20 hectares of vineyards (Cabernet Sauvignon 71%, Merlot 21% and Cabernet Franc 8%) lie on gravelly-clay soils. Vinification includes 18 months' maturation in oak barriques (50% new). Langoa Barton is vinified and matured in exactly the same way as Leoville-Barton and any difference between them must be put down to variations in the soils and exposure of their respective vineyard blocks.
Both Langoa and Leoville wines are models of typical St Julien restraint and elegance, and Anthony's fair pricing policy, always with an eye to the long term has won him many loyal friends amongst his customers. For years, Langoa Barton was considered slightly lighter and more forward than Leoville. However, in the last decade it has become noticeably deeper in colour and richer and more concentrated on the palate. Langoa Barton is now often the equal of Leoville.
Winemaker Notes
Corton appears deep purple, dark red velvet in density magenta. Ample, its bouquet is expressed on fruity accents (blueberry, redcurrant, kirsch) or flowery (violet), evolving towards the undergrowth, the animal, leather, fur, pepper, licorice. On the palate, it is powerful and full-bodied, structured, readily demonstrative: chewiness and body.
About Winery
Domaine Ponsot is a family-owned wine producer in Burgundy. It is known for its red and white wines made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but is also well-known for the Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru Clos des Monts Luisants, the only 100-percent Aligoté premier cru wine in Burgundy.
The domaine was founded in 1872 by the Ponsot family in Morey-Saint-Denis. Most of the domaine's holdings are in grand cru and premier cru vineyards, and Ponsot makes wines from such famous vineyards as Clos de la Roche, Clos de Vougeot and Corton.
Unlike most Burgundy houses, Domaine Ponsot does not make regional wines under the Bourgogne title. It also manages its vineyards and wineries differently to other producers in Burgundy. There are no sorting tables – bunch management is done in the vineyard. The wines go through uncontrolled ferments, and are not filtered or fined.
The domaine gained notoriety when it was embroiled in the widespread wine fraud of counterfeiter Rudy Kurniawan. In 2008, owner Laurent Ponsot was sent an auction list that included some old vintages of Ponsot wines. Some of these were wines that had never been produced, and suspecting counterfeit, asked that these wines were withdrawn from the auction. Since then, Ponsot has looked into various counterfeiting measures, and in 2009, the bottles were fingerprinted with unique bubble codes that were impossible to reproduce.
Winemaker Notes
The nose shows some blackcurrant, vanilla and hint of wood. On the palate, the typical nice freshness of Château Ferrière and some power. The wine has great potential and will need time to reveal itself.
About Winery
Gabriel Ferriere, a well-known broker in Bordeaux in the 18th century was the founder of this estate. Chateau Ferriere was classified a third growth in 1855. The Villars family bought the vineyards and the chateau in 1988 and took over the viticulture and winemaking.
With its 10 hectares, Chateau Ferriere is one of the smallest classified growths. The vineyard is maily located in Margaux, and the soil consists of very deep gravel on limestone marl. The size of the vineyard, combined with its beautiful terroir, make Chateau Ferriere a rare and highly-valued wine.
Claire Villars Luton is responsible for the revival of this estate. Year after year, she has done her best to bring out the unique terror of Chateau Ferriere in the wine, to restore the vineyard to its original splendor, and to make it fully worth of its prestigious classification.
Winemaker Notes
The bouquet is redolent of red fruit. In fact, this is a paradoxical wine. It is soft on the palate, yet also quite tannic and, although fresh, it also has a certain warmth and suavity. 2012 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion is full-bodied and juicy, but tightly-wound on the middle palate. Barrel ageing overseen by a talented cellarmaster will enable this wine to show its character more clearly in the coming months.
About Winery
Produced in small quantities, this second wine is a gateway to the world of Château La Mission Haut-Brion. Its name is a nod to the chapel of La Mission Haut-Brion, built by Lazarist priests in 1698.