FOXLOW

Our wines are on the blackboard at Foxlow, St John Street. Get yourself over there for lunch/dinner asap!

Vendanges 2014

Tomorrow morning I head for Sancerre and harvest with the Delaportes. Report and photos to follow...

New grower in Burgundy

At the end of last year we made a new discovery in Burgundy. Domaine Coquard Loison-Fleurot in Flagey Echezeaux. I met Thomas Collardot when I was working with Sébastien Cathiard during the 2013 harvest. The two are great friends and often compare notes. CLF has been a family run domaine for generations, but has only recently started bottling its own wine, with Thomas heading up the winemaking in 2010.

They have a staggering clutch of Grands Crus amongst their holdings. The wines have deep colour, concentration of fruit, and the defined structure of great Côtes de Nuits reds. This should prove an extremely exciting domaine to start following. 

Holdings include:

Villages:
Chambolle Musigny
Morey Saint Denis
Gevrey Chambertin
Vosne Romanée

1er Cru:
Vosne Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaumonts

Grands Cruds:
Clos Vougeot
Charmes Chambertin
Clos de la Roche
Clos Saint Denis
Echezeaux
Grands Echezeaux

http://robertrolls.com/producers/burgundy-c%C3%B4te-d-or/coquard-loison-fleurot-flagey-echezeaux

If you are interested in purchasing 2012s please contact catherine@rollswine.com for a quote.

Thomas Collardot, Catherin Petrie and Sébastien Cathiard at Coquard Loison-Fleurot

Château Le Grand Verdus

Château Le Grand Verdus in the Entre Deux Mers has been reviewed by Decanter Magazine.

·         Château Le Grand Verdus – Bordeaux Blanc 2013 : 88 pts, 16.5/20

Philippe and Antoine Le Grix de la Salle have made this blend of 60 % Sauvignon, 30 % Semillon, with 10 % Muscadelle. Charming nose dominated by the Sauvignon, with some roundness coming in the mid palate. This foodie, structured, more lemon curd than fleshly cut slices. Intense aromatics.

·         Château Le Grand Verdus – Génération – Bordeaux Supérieur 2012 : 88 pt 16.5/20

Dark rich purple, this has a good impact on the attack from aromatic blend of 70 % Merlot and 30 % Cabernet Franc. Firm tannic hold gives a full mouthfeel, with dark and brooding damson fruits. It’s a big wine, but enjoyable.

We currently offer the Château Le Grand Verdus Blanc 2013 at £8.60/bt and the Château Le Grand Verdus Rouge 2010 at £8.85/bt. Get in touch to place an order.

Domaine Zinck wins the International Trophy at the Decanter World Wine Award for Off Dry over £15

We've just received this excited email from Philippe Zinck:

Dear All,

We have the great pleasure to announce you that we won the Decanter International Trophy for the Pinot Gris Portrait 2012 !!!

Out of 15 000 wines, 33 received an International Trophy, and we were the winner in the Off dry Category over 15£.

This is very high reward , and we would like to share it with all of you.

Please see below link, first the tasting comment of our wine and an interview during the ceremony.

http://www.decanter.com/dwwa/wine/3995/Domaine+Zinck-Portrait+Pinot+Gris+-2012

http://www.decanter.com/dwwa/dwwa-coverage/587101/dwwa-2014-international-trophies-off-dry-over-15

http://www.decanter.com/dwwa/dwwa-coverage/587219/dwwa-presentation-video

We won two other medal at the same show :

Silver Medal : Gewurztraminer Portrait 2012

Bronze Medal : Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Eichberg 2011

In the meantime, enjoy the summer around a glass of Pinot Gris !

Best Regards,

Philippe & Pascale Zinck

*********************************************************

Unfortunately we have run out of stock of the 2012, however we do have some 2009. Email us for details

Another fantastic review from Matthew Jukes...

2010 Les Plans, Domaine Santa Duc, Vin de Pays de Vaucluse, Southern Rhône, France

MoneyWeek | March 21, 2014

2010 Les Plans, Domaine Santa Duc, Vin de Pays de Vaucluse, Southern Rhône, France (£97.20, per case of 12 bottles (£8.10 per bottle), Robert Rolls Fine Wines tel. 020 3215 0011, www.robertrolls.com).  I love the wines of the Southern Rhône with Gigondas being one of the best value, seriously underrated red wines in France.  I have followed Santa Duc for aeons and yet for some reason only really tasted the Gigondas wines in their portfolio.  As you may already know, Robert Rolls has one of the most discerning palates in the country and so it is no surprise that he champions Yves Gras’ wines.  Robert poured me Yves’ budget rouge, Les Plans, the other day and I nearly fell off my chair.  There is no compromise whatsoever in the glass.  Steeped in references to his more famous reds this cracker comes in at a house wine price but seems to be so over-engineered it could pass as a cultured offering from a much grander postcode.  Grenache, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet form the blend in this heroic brew and oak doesn’t even get a look in.  It’s the earthiness, spice and integrity in this dark, velvety red which captivates the senses.  If this wine thrills you, as it does me, then ask for more information on Santa Duc’s top cuvées, Gigondas Les Hautes Garrigues and Les Garancières.

http://www.matthewjukes.com/2014/03/2010-les-plans-domaine-santa-duc-vin-de-pays-de-vaucluse-southern-rhone-france/

2013 at Domaine Sylvain Cathiard et Fils

I’ve just returned to the office from 3 weeks in Vosne Romanée chez Sylvain Cathiard et Fils, working with Sébastien Cathiard on the 2013 harvest. 

2013 won’t go down as an easy vintage for the vignerons of the Cote D’Or: there was massive hail damage just south of Beaune, and significant rot pressure across the region as the weather turned just before picking. With extremely carefully sorting in the vineyard and cuverie, however, the fruit that was brought in at Cathiard was good quality, if somewhat depleted (down significantly on even 2012). People will no doubt talk about 2013 as being a high acid vintage, and that indeed it is. But in a crucial way it differs from the other recent vintage of that description – 2008 – with which it will be compared. Whereas in 2008 the pHs were extremely low (between 3.05-3.15), in 2013, the pHs have come in at an extremely balanced level (between 3.15-3.31) with relatively high total acidity (5.5+). This is a promising start for the young vintage. 

Unfortunately I had to leave just as the fermentations were starting to get into full swing, having done rémontage once and then twice daily with Sébastien during the 7-10 day cold maceration. Colour extraction was very good in the early stages, and all the cuves looked and smelled great. I've been reliably informed all fermentations are now well under way and pigéage has begun in earnest.

All in all, it was a complete pleasure to work at the domaine. It is the cleanest, most precise, most attention-detailed, most carefully handled work I’ve ever experienced. Although my 6^th harvest working in a cuverie I’m mindful of how much more there is to learn. I look forward to number 7 next year (and can't wait to taste '13 in barrel)

Vosne Romanée 1er Cru Malconsorts just before harvest

Sorting table action

Sébastien stumping us with blind tastings

Rémontage during cold maceration

Séb with his RSV Grand Cru barrels

Quite some lunch at Ma Cuisine in Beaune...

By Catherine Petrie