Prince of Wine » Merlot

Wine Review Short #23: Chateau Clerc Milon, Pauillac, Bordeaux

princeofwine — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:05:21 +0000

A chat with Mr. Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy, the Director of Chateau Clerc Milon. This 5th growth Chateau of the 1855 classification does not garner the headlines of its geographical neighbors, Lafite Rothschild and Mouton Rothschild, but for me it is a wine worthy for attention. Having fallen into disrepair following the change of title over the years, the 106 acre estate was acquired in 1970 by Baron Philippe de Rothschild for the bargain price of $1 million francs. The Baron invested heavily in equipment and in the vineyard and the wine produced began to improve noticeably in the 1980′s. Today the chateau is managed by Mr. Danjoy who reports to the Baron’s daughter, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild (the Baron died in 1988) who oversees the various chateau holdings including the flagship Mouton Rothschild, Chateau D’Armailhac, Opus 1 in California and Almaviva of Chile amongst others. The 2006 vintage is comprised of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc and has blackberry and chocolate notes with a creamy texture and firm tannins and a medium-long finish (POW 91). The label is from a 16th century german art of two dancing clowns made of precious stones (the original artwork is in the Museum of Wine Art at Mouton Rothschild). For more information please click on Chateau Clerc Milon website at bpdr.com.

Walid Romaya
Prince of Wine

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Wine Review Short #22: A Lady winemaker on the right bank – Chateau La Couspaude, St. Emilion

princeofwine — Fri, 01 May 2009 09:24:18 +0000

An interview with Ms. Vanessa Aubert of Chateau La Couspaude, of the town of St Emilion regarding the 2006 Vintage. Ms. Aubert is part of a family of winemakers that has worked hard to earn this Chateau a coveted Grande Cru classification in 1996. The Chateau’s soil is clay/limestone with a Chalky sub-soil that supports a predominance of 30 year old Merlot plants. The Chateau’s philosophy regarding reinvigorating the vineyard is complantation (selective /individual replacement of vines rather than removal and replanting of a whole block of vines).
Whilst the 2005 Vintage is complex and early to drink, the 2006 is accessible and has an outstanding bouquet of red fruit intertwined with earthy notes and a very pleasing texture with smooth tannins and a long finish (POW 93). This remarkable wine epitomizes St Emilion and reminds me why I love the right bank of Bordeaux!

Technical Information:
Area under production: 7 hectares ( a hectare is approximately 2.47 acres)
Grape varieties: 75 % merlot, 20 % cabernet franc, 5 % cabernet sauvignon
Average age: 30 years
Type of soil: Saint-Emilion chalky shelf, clay-limestone
Planting density: 6500 shoots/ha
Vinegrowing: Vineyard management plot by plot, severe pruning, leaf thining, bunch thining, hand picking into small crates and carefully sorted prior to crushing.
Winemaking: Wooden small fermenting vats, cold maceration, catch the cap by hand, malolactic fermentation in new French oak barrels, ageing 18 – 20 months.
Yield: 30 – 35 hectolitres/hectare ( a hectare is approximately 2.47 acres)
Winemaker: Jean-Claude Aubert / Vanessa Aubert
Consultant: Michel Rolland

Walid Romaya
Prince of Wine
http://princeofwine.com

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Wine Review Short #21: Meeting with Count Von Neipperg of Chateau Canon-La Gaffeliere

princeofwine — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:27:04 +0000

My interview with Count Stephan Von Neipperg of Chateau Canon-La-Gaffeliere of St. Emilion. The Chateau is comprised of a vineyard of 19.5 hectares sitting on a limestone plateau. The Count is a leading figure in the Bordeaux wine world who has done an exceptional job since taking over the management duties from his father in 1981. Working with a winemaking team led by Stephane Derenoncourt, the wines of Canon-La-Gaffeliere are unusual for a Saint Emilion Chateau as they contain a higher percentage of Cabernet Franc versus Merlot. The 2006 vintage is 47% Cabernet Franc, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon 3% and 50% Merlot. The 2006 Chateau Canon-La-Gaffeliere is a remarkably elegant effort with a great amount of dark berries, plums, chocolate, coffee and mocha in harmony with solid tannins and a long finish. A great wine for the long haul! (POW 94). For technical information please link to canon-la-gaffeliere.com

Walid Romaya

Prince of Wine

www.princeofwine.com

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Wine Review Short #6-2005 Barrak Brand Red (and Silhouette Wine Glass) – Santa Ynez Valley, California

princeofwine — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:40:58 +0000

WINE : 2005 Barrak Brand Red, Santa Ynez Valley, California

TASTING NOTES:

Made by Happy Canyon Vineyard of Santa Ynez Valley, this 2005 small production (200 cases) of Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon /Cabernet Franc blend is the namesake of the owners Tom and Laura Barrack who also happen to own through Colony Capital the venerable Chateau Lascombes, the classified 2nd growth from Margaux. So with Bordeaux on my mind (versus Sideway’s Pinot Noir country that Santa Ynez / Santa Barbara is famed for) I was impressed with a wine of medium garnet color with red fruit aromas interlaced with cedar box and oak notes. On the palate the Merlot part shines through with smooth action of red cherries, backed by a solid backbone of Cabernet Sauvignon based firm yet slightly harsh tannins that still has time to evolve. Overall the wine is in balance with fresh acidity that highlights the fruit. This wine is still young as Bordeaux style blends go so it is a very nice effort. Will continue to evolve and age well for a minimum of 3-5 years.

POW 90

Walid Romaya

Prince of Wine

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