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Sthéfica Colour: Red Origin: France - Bordeaux - Blaye / Bourg Alc % by Vol: 13% (6 X 750ml 180CHF) Jean-Michel Deluc:

Our opinion

A table wine of the kind we would like to taste every day. It is nothing like you might imagine it to be like. Without wanting to misrepresent the legality of the appellation this wine, that has been made entirely out of the fruitiest grape variety that Bordeaux has to offer, completely charmed us. Modern in its concept, it stays true to the identity of the land from which it came.

Description

The Germain family has forged itself a good reputation when it comes to wine. Bernard, the dad, has since brought the Château de Fesles at Bonnezeaux and his son, Thierry, has equally installed himself in the Loire and is now making one of the best Saumur-Champigny from his estate Roches Neuves. His sister Sylvie has stayed in Bordeaux where she sees to the smooth running of Château Livenne in Côtes de Blaye. Superbly placed on the edge of the Gironde their latest product from 2003 goes under the name of Sthéfica, the same as the name of Sylvie's newly adopted little girl. the grapes used to make this wine were all from 4 hectares of merlot vines (over 50 years old) planted on one of the best clayey-chalky in Blayais. This fabulous raw material that has been masterfully vinified as an experiment, by Thierry who has opted for a concentrated wine, that has been coaxed along very nicely by aging it in oak vats/casks (25% new wood) of 225 to 400 litres for 16 months.

Tips on service

• Conservation: ready now but will improve
• At its best in: 2010
• To decant: 2 hours
• Serve at 16°

Food and wine matching

Grilled red meats, steak in a red wine sauce, chicken kebabs, tartar steak, duck carpaccio, magret de canard, creamy cheeses

Tasting notes

By Jean Michel Deluc : Master Sommelier

Eye - A wine with an intense crimson colour with violets tints that show it is still in its youth. The wine sparkles and glimmers under the light and the wine turns into a slightly more mauvey colour at the edge of the glass show the start of its evolution. Very nice fat visual concentration.
Nose - On the nose it was above all the delicacy of the aromatic structure that struck us, a delicacy that melts into the overall seductiveness of the wine. The aromatic structure is very complex allying the fruitiness and the scents of the aging process, notes of pepper, liquorice, vanilla, cherries, blackcurrants, blackberries, prunes, peonies and roses. After aeration the wine gains in freshness with a classy note of peppermint. Absolutely divine.
Palate - The wine is smooth and velvety on the palate, with the flavours mirroring exactly those present on the nose. The structure then comes trough with its minty acidity and liquorice flavours that give relief to the overall taste. It is the subtle and flattering notes of spices that give the wine such a dynamic and graceful finish. An awesome wine.