Merry Christmas!!!!

Merry Christmas every body!!

And the best for celebrating Christmas is.....
Champagne shooooooowers!!!!!!

Here our selection of champagne:

Moët et Chandon vintage 2002, a really good champagne for a nice price (around 42 euros). It will give you a sensation of freshness with aromas of candied fruits. 

The Grand Siècle vintage from Laurent perrier is a relly good champagne. it has a complex noze with aromas of candied citrus fruit and almond. in mouth, the wine gives a pleased sensation of freshness and minerality. 

The packaging is a real piece of art: in the limited edition box, the bottle  is presented in an aiguillère. This special packaging is dedicated to the French painter: Renoir.

The Dom Perignon Rosé vintage 2002 has a very nice aromas of lemon and dries fruit.  In mouth, the wine captivates immediatly the palate with a strange but good assoxiation of creamy taste in background.  We love the label and the features of the bottle. 

 My champagne for christmas was:

Champagne de Saint Gall premier cru:  Assembly of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. It is a ropy wine with toasted aromas  and notes of bun. I like this wine because it can paired with all your meals and you can drink it from the entry to the desert. 

Champagne is the best beverage for Christmas. But, don't wait special moments to drink champagne, it would be a loss of time!!!! 

Merry Christmas and see you next year!!

Louise Chéreau 

Terre de vins tasting at the Regent Grand Hotel

Hi everybody !

Too much time since i have posted something for you ! So this time is resolved .
This past thursday 15 december, the revue Terre de Vins had organized a wonderful tasting with a list of at least 23 grands crus of the classification of 1855 from Medoc and Sauternes areas :

  


                               
- Château BEYCHEVELLE - Saint-Julien
Vintages : 2005 & 2009

- Château LEOVILLE POYFERRE - Saint-Julien                                            

Vintages : 2007 & 2008   

- Château LAGRANGE - Saint-Julien    

Vintages : 2007 & 2008

- Château BELGRAVE - Haut-Médoc                     

Vintages : 2007 & 2008  

- Château CANTEMERLE - Haut-Médoc              
Vintages : 2007 & 2008

- Château DESMIRAIL - Margaux                          
Vintages : 2007 & 2008


- Château GISCOURS - Margaux                                      
Vintage 2008   


- Château d'ISSAN - Margaux                                  
Vintages : 2007 & 2008
                                          
- Château KIRWAN - Margaux                                
Vintage 2008


- Château RAUZAN SEGLA - Margaux                
Vintages : 2007 & 2008                                             


- Château du TERTRE - Margaux                          
Vintage 2008                                                            

- Château PICHON LONGUEVILLE - Pauillac

Vintages : 2007 & 2008 

- Château CLERC MILON - Pauillac                                                              

Vintages : 2007 & 2008 

- Château BATAILLEY - Pauillac

Vintages : 2007 & 2008  

- Château d'ARMAILHAC - Pauillac                                                            

Vintages : 2007 & 2008

 - Château COS D'ESTOURNEL - Saint-Estèphe
Vintage 2007


- Château CLIMENS - Barsac                                  
Vintages 2004 & 2008                                            


- Château DOISY-VEDRINES - Barsac                  
Vintage 2007                                                            


- Château SUDUIRAUT - Sauternes
Vintages : 2007 & 2008

- Château SIGALAS RABAUD - Sauternes

Vintages : 2007& 2008

- Clos HAUT-PEYRAGUEY - Sauternes              
Vintage 2007                                                            


- Château LA TOUR BLANCHE - Sauternes
Vintage 2007


- Château de MALLE - Sauternes
Vintages : 2007 & 2008


Do not be jealous guys ! This is the occasion for me to tell you more about my favorites (because i taste eveything only for you !) Here is my TOP 3 :


- Château BEYCHEVELLE 2005 - Saint Julien

Absolutely amazing ! With sweet perfume of roasted herbs, black cherries and even blacker fruits, you know only with the nose that to taste, it is going to be awesome! The wine was medium to full-bodied with sweet and elegant tannins and a good acidity. Pure and long, this is a wine made on the fruit with a really fine spiciness and earthiness .. Wonderful !


- Château BEYCHEVELLE 2009 - Saint Julien

I have to say that i am not a big of this appellation, but i think i found an example of MY Saint Julien with this estate. More woody but in an elegant way, i found caramel and soft and slightly perfumed red fruits. Tannins are also elegant and the present spiciness is a part of it even if it is a young wine. The finish is really fresh and convincing ! I loved it !



- Château CLIMENS 2004 - Barsac


Even if for appellations such as Barsac and Sauternes, odd numbers vintages are the best, i have to say that this wine was made for me ! I think that wines from those appellations are to rich in sugar for me, so this wine was perfect ! Fresh, with less sugar and aromas of honey, sweet bun and white flowers with a touch of really sweet caramel ... Miam ! Here is my Barsac wine !




Interesting, isn't it ? But as you know, taste a wine is really personnal and the interpretation will be diferent depending of your past experience. This tasting was the occasion too to meet people and enjoy a good moment.

Our Page 6 :

Talking about the tasting in front of the Regent Grand Hotel

M. Alexis MAESTRO - Former Marketing Assistant at Cordier MeztrezatMiss. Camille ROQUEMAURE - MURAIRE - Commercial Assistant at La Boisseraie
M. Bertrand GUILLON - House physician
Miss. Charlotte HOULETTE - Marketing Manager at Vintex - Vignobles Gregoire
M. Pierre GRANDIN - Managing Director of Champagne Thierry Grandin

Enjoying a glass of Château Leoville Poyferré 2007

M. Jean Marc KOCH - Former Marketing Director of CIVB
Miss. Camille ROQUEMAURE MURAIRE - Commercial Assistant at La Boisseraie

So we have to say "Thank you Terre de Vins" and "thank you to all the estates which introduced us to their great wines". An amazing moment !

Sarah Clavier ;)

going to paradise

This week my reason to drink wine is :  going to paradise!!!

Do you also want to go to paradise? Follow the steps!!!!

And now!!!!

Welcome to paradise!!!!!!!!!

Do you want eating and drinking moët et Chandon?

The 2 and 3 of December I was at le grand tasting  with my friend Cheng.  I had the pleasure to go to a demonstration of champagne and food pairing with Mr Brévot, the wine maker , and the chief from Moet et Chandon: Mr Bernard Dance assisted by its second chief: Franc Houssac.

The chefs take to pose!!!

While cooking, the chief gave us some advices:

“the best mean to make experience is to go beyond the wine” .

 I had the privilege  to eat and drink Moet et Chandon do you want to know the menu?

Champagne Moët et Chandon Impérial, blanc & Saint Jacques with grapefruit emulsion.  

I know you hate me !!!!  but it is not finish!!

Second part of meal!

-

 Champagne Moët et Chandon Grand Vintage, blanc 2002 & Gambas and zabaglione with curry powder.  

If you want the recipies follow our news on the reason wine!!!!!

Amazing Tasting!

                   

Hi Everybody! Did you go to Paris to visit the "Grand Tasting" this weekend? It was an Amazing!! Event with more than 2000 wines from 340 domains at the Carrousel du Louvre. If you have missed this opportunity, don't worry! I'll update you with the latest news about "Grand Tasting" by sharing my experience with you.

The night at Louvres

Firstly, my tour began in the world of champagne, the sparkling wines with nice designs and bubbles! I would like to introduce my favourite, " Perrier Jouet"--a Champagne with a floral taste. I've tried several: Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut, blanc; Perrier-Jouet Blason Rose; Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque, blanc 2004. I prefer the Rose because of its fresh taste with the bubble mousse, which is quite different from the white Champagne.

Perrier-Jouet

Then, with the "Ecole de Terroir", I was introduced to 23 Climates of Beaunes 1er Cru, Bourgogne by tasting the cold vintage 2008. The most interesting one is Beaune Greves Vigne de L'enfant Jesus 2009 whose has the potential to be kept for a long time.

Thirdly, the Alsace wine with a nice shape! Riesling, Gewurstraminer, Sylnar! From a personal view, Alsace wines are my favorite. They are fresh, fruity, sweety and feminine. 

Finally, for the alcoholic fan, the Cognac! In the area of Cognac, I had the honor to talk with the owner from whom I learnt the process of maturation of this "Eau de Vie".With a high percent of alcohol in it, we drink it with ice or in cocktail. Here it is, the Cocktail!

The "Beaujolais Nouveau" is new for 60 years.

This is the first exciting wine event of the 2011 vintage!! The Beaujolais Nouveau is a tradition in Beaujolais for 60 years!  

In 1951, a decision of the French government authorizes the early launch on market. The Beaujolais nouveau took profit of this decision because the wines are very fruity and flavorful in Primeur.  While Bordeaux wines are sold in Primeur in march, the BN is ready to be drink the third week of November.  Moreover, it is very flavorful and fruity in this period.

The Beaujolais Nouveau became quickly an international event which represents nowadays the Opening of the New Vintage.  The well-known reputation of the BN is also due to its fantastic promotion. Each year the poster of the BN day is really beautiful, colored and efficient.

Let’s  have a look on some of them! 

(* The Beaujolais Nouveau is arrived

it is here!

at a professional...

wine merchant!)

What about the appellation Beaujolais?

This appellation is situated in the Bourgogne region in the east of France. Which is particulary interesting in This areas is that it exists 12 different beaujolais:

2 local appellations:

- beaujolais
- beaujolais villages

This regions only product wines which must be drunk 3 t 6 month after the bottling.
.

only these two can be sold as Beaujolais Nouveau.

There are also ten other vintages:

- Brouilly
- Chénas
- Chiroubles
- Côte de brouilly
- Fleury
- Julienas
- Morgon
- Moulin à vent
- Régnié
- Saint- Amour

These AOC product fine wines which can be kept 5 to 7 (rarely 10) years.

If you want to learn more about the Beaujolais nouveau, go to visit this website!

http://www.beaujolais.com/beaujolais-nouveau/index.php

Buy buy guys!!!!

Buzet, the appellation to be !

Hi my loves ! 

Sarah to the rescue ! This week, let's discover ....... (drum roll!!!!!) BuZet !  

This appellation, closed to Bordeaux, is typically the place where you can feel the expression of the terroir through all your body. I wish i will finish my life there.. 

OR maybe I am just joking ... Whatever, here is our amazing video ! Have a look and enjoy BuZet ! 

Have a nice trip 

Mouaah X

Sauternes & Barsac open doors

Sauternes & Barsac open doors to the public this weekend. It's a rare opportunity for enthusiasts of liqueur wine. My friends and I visited several chateaus in these two domains. And I want to share with you guys my fascinating experience by introducing you two chateaus in Sauternes in this article.Firstly, I would like to present roughly the Sauternes area. 

The area of Sauternes is a small region located on left bank of the Garonne 40 kilometers south-east of Bordeaux. The SAUTERNES appellation extends approximately on 1956 hectares (Barsac included) and on the territory of five towns: Sauternes (416 ha), Bommes, Fargues, Preignac and Barsac.The wines of Sauternes are gilded, sweet, but also fine and delicate. Their " rôti " bouquet develops very well with ageing, becoming rich and complex, with crystallized orange and hazel nut, honey notes. The " rôti " is the specific character given by the noble rot to the Sauternes wines, which results in a taste and flavours of crystallized.

We started our journey with a visit to a second growth classified in 1855-Chateau Filhot. The estate covers an area of 350 hectares with 62 hectares of vineyard all along the south of the Sauternes village in the Sauternes appellation.The 62 hectares of vines of the château Filhot are planted with 60 % of Sémillon, 36 % of Sauvignon and 4 % of Muscadelle. The harvest is made with successive selections according to the state of maturation of the grapes and the evolution of the noble rot (botrytis cinerea). This long work of selection gives low yield, about 10 to 20 hl/ha depending on the year.

Then comes to the famous chateau-La Tour Blanche. (a premier cru, especially one ranked second to only Yquem). The vineyard at La Tour Blanche comprises approximately 65 hectares on a hill, which rises to a height of 67 metres, overlooking the Ciron. The soils are gravel over clay at the upper end of the vineyard, with soils of sand and loess closer to the river. The vines are predominantly white, these being 83% Semillon with 12% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Muscadelle, although there is also a very small quantity of red vines. The fruit is first sorted, and a selection for the grand vin, Chateau La Tour de Blanche (up to 4000 cases per annum). Those not making the grade may well constitute part of the second wine, Les Charmilles de La Tour Blanche (typically 1250 cases per annum), which can be tremendous value in a good vintage. After fermentation in oak (stainless steel for the second wine), the grand vin will spend up to 18 months in new oak barrels, before fining, filtering and bottling. 

I've got a much deeper understanding about the area after the visits with nice guides. It seems to me that the liqueur wine in Sauternes has a great potential in the international market and will be appreciated by more and more people.

Hospices de Beaune Wine Sale

November is arrived : the beginning of the winter, the bad weather and the fresh temperature which accompany it, rains awaiting snows, days which shrink just a little more,…

But in November, it is also the famous Hospices de Beaune wine sale.

Each years, more particularly the third Sunday of November, Beaune, wine Burgundy‘s capital, celebrate the traditional event. On Sunday 20 November, the 151th Hospices de Beaune wine auction, the oldest and most prestigious charity wine sale in the world, is to take place at the Halles de Beaune. 

In 1443, at a time of misery and famine, Nicolas Rolin, chancellor to Philippe Le Bon, Duke of Burgundy, and his wife, Guigone de Salins, establish the Hotel-Dieu (Hospital) to take care of the ill and poor. Since its foundation, the Hospital has been funded by legacies and gifts in the form of money, land, buildings and –naturally in Burgundy– vineyards. In 1457, the first gift of vineyards is made by Guillemette Leverrier.

In 1859, for the first time, the Hospices wines are sold at auction.

Nowadays, the production area being run by the Hospices is close to 60 hectares, of which 50 are used for Pinot Noir, the rest for Chardonnay.

The 2011 crop is close in size to the average of recent decades. The Hospices will be offering 761 barrels called pieces (=One barrel, “une pièce”, contains 228 litres, or approximately 288 bottles of 75cl.): 618 pièces of red wine and 143 pièces of white wine. There will be 45 Cuvées at the wine auction - 32 of red and 13 of white.

Since 1945, every year the Hospices de Beaune has given its support to one or several charities by donating the value of one barrel of wine sold especially to that end: “la pièce du president” – the president’s barrel. This year, Ms. Ines de La Fressange will be the president of the Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction. She will be supporting the Association Mécénat Chirugie. France Alzheimer Association that fights against Alzheimer's disease, which is now recognized as a key, public health priority, will also be a beneficiary of proceeds from this barrel. After the sale, wine will be tended by a Burgundy merchant-wholesaler in whose cellars it will mature until the chosen moment of bottling.

While waiting for this event, don’t forget another date: Thursday November, 17^th:

The BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU DAY

Today Louise tells you about Muscadet!!!!!!

HIII Guys !!!

The first topic is the Muscadet, this subject is very important for me because I speak about my roots!!!! 

First of all, here is a little history about this dry and fruity wine.

The “appellation d’origine controlée” Muscadet is situated on the west of the Loire valley.  The wines are only white  and the grappe variety is called “Melon de Bourgogne”.  The name of the variety comes from its geographic origins because it has been imported from burgundy at the beginning of the XVIII th century.

Here is the “identity card” of the appellation.

The card of the Loire Valley: The Muscadet is situated on the west. 

Name: Muscadet

Acres: 11 000

Variety: Melon de Bourgogne

Color: white
soil: predominantly schist
description: it is a fresh and dry wine with aromas of citrus fruits. It fits very well with seafood!!! 

I tasted one for you!!! ( I know it very well, but I tasted it once more).

It is a dry wine (that is to say there is no sugar in the glass), very fruity (in particular citrus fruit and  minerality).  This wine is very appreciable at the aperitive and with seafood. But I drink it with everything so let’s taste it at home, it is not an expensive wine but a quality wine.

A field in the Muscadet: The Château of Chasseloir.

The château was destroyed during the French revolution  and now it remains only the tower of the 14th century : emblem of the château. (photo). 
the field has been bought by Bernard Chéreau in 1954 and then  he created the Chéreau - Carré company. 

The vineyard is located in Saint Fiacre sur Maine near Nantes, between two rivers: the Maine and the Sèvre giving the well known appellation “Muscadet Sèvre et Maine”. 

The reputation of the domaine comes from its one hundred years old vines, and also for the old cellar decorated by wood sculptures representing virtue and vice which contains 80 oak barrels.


The House of Chéreau - Carré privileged to produce the wine on the lies. This special technique gives a particluar aromas to the wine. The vinification on the lies is a guarantee of quality. 

If you want more information you can visit the website of the Chereau - Carré company : http://www.chereau-carre.fr

See you guys


Louise