Prince of Wine » Red

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 #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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O. Fournier Winery, Mendoza, Argentina

princeofwine — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:10:54 +0000

I visited O. Fournier Winery in May 2008, it is an ultramodern Spanish owned Bodega and has a solid lineup of Red wines. I will do a short video review on them soon. The wines are called Alfa Crux and B Crux and both are exceptional Meritage style wines. My initial ratings On O. Fournier Winery wines are POW 90 and POW 92 respectively based on a preliminary tasting at the winery. I just wanted to share with you for now the photo of the winery itself, it looks like a spaceship has just landed!

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Wine Review Short #1 – 2005 Heitz Cellars Petit Verdot, Napa, California

princeofwine — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 06:26:49 +0000

WINE : 2005 HEITZ CELLARS, PETIT VERDOT, Napa Valley $34

TASTING NOTES:

Petit Verdot is one of the 6 classical Bordeaux grapes. A late ripening grape, It is primarily used in Bordeaux as a blending grape due to its color and Tannic ‘muscle’. Lately, though some producers especially in the new world has attempted to produce 100% Petit Verdot.

I bought this bottle from Heitz Cellars in Napa Valley, a respected multi generational winery well known for their Cabernet Sauvignon wines such as Martha’s Vineyard.

The color is deep purple with a nose of graphite, crushed black fruit and cedar. On the palate, the wine had very subtle dark berry fruit intermingled with earthy notes, a lot of forward but soft tannins, high acidity and a medium finish. This wine will continue to evolve, it is not yet in balance. Wait for a few years and the palate will be in tune with the nice aromas.

POW Score: 87

Walid Romaya

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Wine Review Short #2 – Summerwood Winery, Paso Robles

princeofwine — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:54:36 +0000

WINE : 2004 Summerwood Winery- Syrah- James Berry Vineyard- Paso Robles $75

Summerwood Winery is located in Paso Robles in California’s central coast. I bought this wine directly from the winery. The wine has deep ruby inky color with a massive nose of fruit laden with blackberries, plums, maple syrup and raspberry preserve. This high alcohol syrah (15.4%) attacks your palate with gusto leaving no prisoners standing! The soft tannins in combination with dark fruit are masked by the high alcohol. This wine is to be drunk with hearty food and is not a sipping wine.

POW Score: 87

Current Summerwood Winery Deals online:

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