Antonio Galloni reviews Cristal 2009

Antonio Galloni has been the first to review Champagne Louis Roederer’s Cristal 2009.

Galloni, the author of Vinous, a ‘modern day wine publication’, awarded Cristal 94 – 96 Points, and wrote the following tasting note:

The 2009 Cristal literally shimmers on the palate, showing great depth and purity in its sumptuous layers of fruit. It is a magnificent wine endowed with superb length and exceptional overall balance. The 2009 Cristal is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. The percentage of wine aged in oak is 15%, which is down slightly from previous vintages.

Cristal 2009 is extra special, having being released alongside Louis Roederer’s first ever marketing campaign, ‘La Différence Cristal’, as well as having a new, modernised label.

Contact Marinel to find out more about Champagne Louis Roederer’s Cristal 2009.

Capellanía Features in the Wines from Spain Awards 2016

Once again the Marqués de Murrieta Capellanía has been featured in the Wines from Spain Awards, which recognise the very best wines that Spain has to offer.

This iconic white Rioja is made from 100% Viura grapes exclusively sourced from an old single vineyard called Capellanía, located at 485 meters altitude within the 300 hectare Ygay estate.

Fermentation takes place in stainless steel followed by twenty months of ageing in new French Barriques.

This elegant white Rioja is dry and savoury with flavours of ripe golden fruit, honey and vanilla, balanced by a lovely freshness on the finish. This truly is a modern take on the traditional Rioja style.

Contact Christine to find out more about Capellanía.

Julia Harding reviews Siepi

Julia Harding has reviewed the Castello di Fonterutoli Siepi 1992 and 2012 following a special tasting dinner celebrating the 20th anniversary of this iconic Sangiovese and Merlot blend.

Julia describes the wines:

Castello di Fonterutoli, Siepi 1992 IGT Toscana

A blend of Sangiovese and Merlot. No temperature control at this point in the winery’s history and it was the first vintage of this wine (after an experimental blend in 1989) as well as the first with Carlo Ferrini as consultant. ‘Another fresh vintage’, says owner Filippo Mazzei. 50% new oak. They planted Merlot at a time when most people were planting Cabernet. And 1992 was not great for Sangiovese but it was very good for Merlot. 5,500 bottles produced.
Smells quite similar to the 2005, smoky, undergrowth, elegant and dry but still showing the remains of dark fruit, and a light meaty sweetness. Meaty truffle notes. Silky, very fine grained but present tannins. Deliciously fresh and complex. Later, with air, the meatiness is less evident though there is still a savoury flavour and notes of iron (bloody). Drink 2000-2020

Castello di Fonterutoli, Siepi 2012 IGT Toscana

The 20th vintage of this 50/50 Sangiovese/Merlot blend, celebrated by a special anniversary label. 18,000 bottles produced.
Scented, even a hint of lavender, so dry and so fine. Dark fruited and extremely elegant. Real finesse already and a dusty, mineral quality that adds to that effect. Nevertheless there is a juicy freshness. Nothing flashy about this. It gets sweeter-fruited and softer with time in the glass and overall it seems to be marked more by the Sangiovese than by the Merlot. Drink 2016-2028.

Contact Effi to find out more about Siepi.

Michelle Obama welcomed to Spain with Castillo Ygay!

The President of the United States, Barack Obama, and his wife, Michelle Obama, recently visited Spain. During their stay, the United States Embassy hosted a dinner in honour of the First Lady. The red wine chosen to celebrate her presence in Spain was Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 2007.

The Castillo Ygay was chosen to accompany a sumptuous main course of Monkfish with Summer Vegetable Paella and Saffron Alioli.

Marqués de Murrieta’s Castillo Ygay is the Bodega’s most iconic wine, made from Tempranillo and Mazuelo grapes grown in an old single-vineyard called La Plana, located at 485 metres altitude in the Rioja Alta. It is exclusively used for this gran reserva wine, and only in the most excellent quality vintages.

Contact Christine to find out more about this iconic wine.

Cristal 1996 is Decanter’s “Top Magnum of Champagne to Try”

Champagne Louis Roederer’s Cristal 1996 was named as a “Top Magnum of Champagne to try” and awarded 98 Points in a rare Champagne Magnum tasting hosted by Jancis Robinson and The Finest Bubble.

Decanter quote Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, cellar master and vice-president of Louis Roederer, who highlights that every bottle in Champagne is a fermentation vessel. Lécaillon stresses that, “the bigger the format, the longer the fermentation, which creates more complexity – a more seamless texture.”

The judges described the Cristal 1996 Magnum: “A dazzling achievement in a tricky year. Emphatic punch of acidity has been moulded into electric energy and thrust, while keeping the saline vinosity. Exceptional”.

Click here to read the full article.

Contact Marinel to find out more about this iconic wine.

Domaine Faiveley Grand Cru Lunch 2016

Erwan Faiveley once again joined us for our annual Domaine Faiveley Grand Cru Lunch at The Square. Guests were treated to a fantastic tasting menu paired with some of Domaine Faively´s top wines including Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru 2009, Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 2008 and Mazis Chambertin Grand Cru 1999.

For more photos see our Facebook page

The full menu can be downloaded below.

Castiglion del Bosco launches Millecento 1100

Castiglion del Bosco, a founding member of the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino, has launched its first Brunello Riserva under the name Millecento 1100, paying a tribute to the year the fortress safeguarding Montalcino from the attacks of Siena and Florence was built in the Estate.

The 7,000-bottle Millecento Riserva production comes from a single 8.5-hectare organically treated, high density plot, planted at 460m above sea level in the spectacular ‘Capanna’ vineyard. Its prolonged maceration is followed by a 36-month maturation in large (30hL) French oak barrels and concrete egg tanks to ensure unparalleled quality and longevity.

Cecilia Leoneschi, winemaker at Castiglion del Bosco, since Massimo Ferragamo purchased the property in 2003, said:

“The particularity of this single-plot is its dual exposure, south-east and south-west, which adds personality to the wine. We waited for the vineyard to reach optimum quality potential (it was planted in 1998) and released the first Millecento in the spectacular 2010 vintage.

Millecento Brunello Reserva, despite being the most recent addition to the Castiglion del Bosco range, is the most traditional in both winemaking and packaging. It represents the estate’s philosophy of making wines in the vineyard, with minimum intervention and respect in the winery.”

Millecento Riserva was launched at a private dinner hosted by Massimo Ferragamo and Cecilia Leoneschi and organised by Harrods at Tartufi & Friends and was recently showcased at the Italy Decanter Fine Wine Encounter at The Landmark on Saturday 4th June.

Contact Effi Tsournava should you require further information.

Great Parker Scores for Pazo Barrantes!

The latest vintages of Pazo de Barrantes’ two Albariños have received outstanding Parker scores. After tasting the wines, Luis Gutierrez said that ‘the wines of Pazo de Barrantes, in Rias Baixas, have become one of the best values of this Appellation of Origin’.

Located in the Salnés valley, just a few kilometres from the Atlantic coast, Pazo de Barrantes boasts 12 hectares of Albariño vineyards surrounding their 16th century Galician Palace. All the vines are trained high on supporting wires in the “Parral” trellis system, as is the local tradition, to guard against mildew and rot, and also to assist ripening. The soil is sandy, acidic and shallow.

The Pazo Barrantes style is rich and full, released last out of all the wineries in the region after a slow malolactic fermentation and is intended to develop well in bottle.

Pazo Barrantes 2015: 90-91 points

‘It has a very expressive nose and it’s creamy on the palate following its characteristic style, while maintaining the freshness and acidity. It is evolving very well and gaining complexity.’

La Comtesse 2013: 93 points

‘The best vintage of La Comtesse so far. It shows a brilliant combination between volume and freshness when tasting it. If you want to combine Albariño grape with oak, this is the way to do it.’

Contact Christine to find out more about these high scoring wines.

Five Gold Medals for MMD at the DWWA

Maisons Marques et Domaines is delighted to announce five Gold Medal wins at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2016!

The Decanter World Wine Awards has become one of the largest and most influential competitions in the wine industry, judged by thousands of wine experts to find the world’s most exciting and high quality wines.

Gold Medals have been awarded to the following wines from the Maisons Marques et Domaines Portfolio:

Domaines Schlumberger Riesling Grand Cru Saering 2013

“Golden in colour with green hues, with aromas of lime, camomile, stone fruits and a hint of white pepper. Zippy, mineral and dry”.

Pio Cesare Barolo Ornato 2011

“This elegant Barolo has fragrant aromas of delicate florals, tar, sweet cherry and spice. Immediately approachable with excellent balance and structure. Polished tannins and a long, mineral finish.”

Pio Cesare Barbaresco Il Bricco 2011

“Garnet in colour, with perfumes of dark berries and summer fruits with a touch of sweet spice, liquorice and herbal notes. Rich, with delicious juicy fruit, fine tannins and a long, expressive finish.”

Castello di Fonterutoli Chianti Classico 2013

“Deep ruby in colour with a perfumed nose of black cherry, bramble and spice with hints of tobacco. Rounded structure with ripe tannins and a long, spicy finish”.

Ramos Pinto 20 Year Old Tawny

“Stunning tawny colour with red tints and lovely aromas of ripe dark fruits, spice and vanilla. Very long, savoury finish.”

Contact Maisons Marques et Domaines to find out more about these Gold Medal winning wines.

Duas Quintas Reserva Wins Gold

The Duas Quintas Reserva 2013 has been awarded a Gold Medal at the International Wine Challenge 2016.

The famous Port House, Ramos Pinto, produces Duas Quintas, exceptional red table wines from the Ervamoira and Bons Ares vineyards in the Douro region of Portugal.

The Reserva is made from hand harvested grapes vinified in granite wine presses and stainless steel tanks, depending on the plots. Twenty percent of the wine is aged in wooden tonnels and eighty percent in new and one year old barrels.

This award winning wine is intense, dark garnet in colour with aromas of luscious dark red fruits and undertones of toasty oak and wild herbs.

Contact Christine to find out more.

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