Tuesday, October 24, 2006


Photograph noncontractual
Zoom
Château Pesquié Quintessence 2003
Vintage: 2003
Colour: Red
12 X 750ml (300CHF)
Origin: France - Rhône Valley - Southern Rhône - Côtes du Ventoux
Alc % by Vol: 14%



Guide Hachette: *
Jean-Michel Deluc:
Revue des Vins de France: 8,5/10
Robert Parker: 90-92 /100





Our opinion
There is no doubt that this wine will be worthy of a five star rating in just a couple of months. Despite its relative discretion today, this wine definitely hides a great deal of potential! You will discover the perfectionist style of this Château, reflecting the style of vinification and plentiful notes of barrel ageing, resulting in a wonderfully enticing wine. Be sure to decant before serving with generous, well-simmered cuisine.

Description
In 1985, Paul and Edith Chaudière, physiotherapist and speech therapist from Avignon, decided to take a step back and rethink their professional lives, in the hope of returning back to the family tradition of wine making. They decided to realise their dream and took up the family vineyard at Château Pesquié, which used to belong to the illustrious Daudet family from Provence. The first few steps came as quite a challenge for the family who, not having much experience in the field of wine making, then found themselves trying to compete in this little known appellation where almost no independent vinegrowers were left, after the appellation had become dominated by co-operative wineries. Over four years, they painstakingly reconstructed and developed the vineyard, in the hope of bringing it back to its former glory. They ripped out the table-grapes and cherry trees, favouring old vines, and planted Syrah and Grenache varieties. In 1989, after an incredible journey of new experiences, acheivements and some important lessons learnt, the Chaudière and Bastide families decided to create the wine cellar at Château Pesquié. Over the last 15 years, the adventure has continued, with the continued expansion of both the wine cellar and Domain at Château Pesquié, resulting in a coveted position as one of the best Domains in the appellation. The Chaudière family chose the name "Quintessence" to emphasize the notion of exceptional wines of outstanding quality. Quintessence from Château Pesquié is a blend of 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache, matured for 12 months in oak barrels (60% new wood, 40% old wood). It is a meaty, ample and spicy wine that displays great power and complexity. It is the result of a double selection process from the oldest vines at the vineyard and the very best cuvées from the Domain.

Tips on service
• Serve at 16°

Food and wine matching
Beef casserole, lamb navarin, young pork chop in a sticky caramel sauce, wild boar casserole, stewed hare, salmi of wood pigeon, strong and well-aged cheeses.

Tasting notes
By Jean Michel Deluc : Master Sommelier
Eye - A wine of ruby colour and very good intensity, with nuances in colour shading from aubergine to darker purple at the edge of the glass. No signs of maturity are evident in the colour of this wine. The concentration of colour is equally matched by the richness of the wine in the glass. It is bright and rendered opaque due to its density of colour.
Nose - The nose displays lots of finesse, despite its discrete nature. A certain amount of aeration is required before you will discover superb, jammy notes of blackberries, blueberries and morello cherries, followed by notes of barrel ageing; cedar wood, cocoa, coffee, incense, pepper and liquorice. A final note of mint adds freshness and distinction. Despite being slightly reserved, this wine still expresses all the typical notes of the terroir with through its racy and enticing background.
Palate - The attack on the palate is soft and fruity, like a fruity sweet. The first impression on the palate is of an absolutely delicious wine, but one that quickly takes on a more Cartesian nature and a much stronger structure. Fine, silky tannins and a thirstquenching acidity are found towards the finish of this wine that has superb length.

Photograph noncontractual
Zoom
Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2001
Vintage: 2001
Colour: Red
Origin: United States - Washington - Columbia Valley AVA
Alc % by Vol: 14%
12 X 750 (432CHF)



The Wine Spectator: 93/100 Top 100 2004




This product is sold in the following mixed case(s):
World Tour Classic Red Selection (6 Btls)

Our opinion
It's roundness and ripeness combined with fine balance and freshness make it especially appealing. The wine has complex aromas, both in the nose and on the palate. A wine that's ready to enjoy now, after a brief decanting, but can also be kept for a few months more. Meals cooked out of doors will suit it wonderfully. (December 2004)..

Description
Washington State, probably most famous for the eruption of Mount St Helena in the 1980's, is the up and coming wine region in the States. It is at higher altitude than the Napa and therefore has the capacity of producing wines of the same richness of fruit but with more finesse and complexity. Colombia Crest was founded as recently as 1978 and has rapidly become the leader in the area. Huge investment has been made here and the results are stunning : these wines, as well as those of its elder brother Château Ste Michelle, are regularly praised in its native US.

Tips on service
• Conservation: drinking now
• At its best in: 2008
• To decant: 1 hour
• Serve at 16°

Food and wine matching
Serve with gourmand's salad, grilled beef, pork ribs with rosemary, lamb chops with summer savory, rabbit or chicken in peppery mustard sauce, strong flavored cheeses.

Tasting notes
By Jean Michel Deluc : Master Sommelier
Eye - A wine of a ruby color of good intensity with glints of violet and a fade tending toward a softer mauve tone at the edge of the glass. The wine is bright, limpid and displays good concentration.
Nose - The nose offers an aromatic background dominated by ripeness. You'll detect notes of jammy red and dark fruit including blackcurrants, cherries, blackberries and prunes. Then the wine takes on spicy notes of pepper, cardamom or vanilla, along with empyreumatic notes of smoke, toasted aromas and cacao. Finally, a fresher note of mint rounds out this already rather complex background.
Palate - On the palate the wine has a supple, fruity attack with a fine structure lending freshness in mid palate. The same very ripe fruity notes and notes of spice reappear on the palate, and persist with good length. The finish is licorice and peppery. A balanced wine that's ready to enjoy now.

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Folonari Amarone Della Valpolicella 2003

6 X .75L 150 CHF

Faustino I Gran Reserva Rioja 1996

6 X .75l 199 CHF

Marques de Riscal Gran Reserva (Rioja) 1999

6 X .75L 179CHF