The Wine & Whisky Thread

[rmcin626]

A wee visit to the local whisky shop.

[Barry]

Château de la Grande Tour, Cuvée Phoebe, Bordeaux AOC, 2022

Located in the village of Saint-Martial in Bordeaux's Entre Deux-Mers. Château de la Grande Tour has been in the Dumas family since the end of the 19th century. The old stone farmhouse once boasted a large watchtower, hence the property's name. Xavier Dumas is today the fourth generation of his family to run the estate, combining tradition and modernity in the wine making.

Château de la Grande Tour is a medium-bodied red with aromas of ripe damson, blackberry, black currant and hints of earthy spice. Look for similar flavors on the palate. Round tannins frame the long, complex finish. Very dark colour with purplish reflections. Bouquet of black fruit with a discreet woody mineral undertone. Pleasant concentration and expressive flavours. An elaborate, complex cuvée that is definitely worth cellaring for a while.

Gold medal winner: Médaille d'Or, Paris 2023

80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% ABV. Drink by end February 2033. About £13 a bottle.

[rmcin626]

Château de la Grande Tour, Cuvée Phoebe, Bordeaux AOC, 2022

Located in the village of Saint-Martial in Bordeaux's Entre Deux-Mers. Château de la Grande Tour has been in the Dumas family since the end of the 19th century. The old stone farmhouse once boasted a large watchtower, hence the property's name. Xavier Dumas is today the fourth generation of his family to run the estate, combining tradition and modernity in the wine making.

Château de la Grande Tour is a medium-bodied red with aromas of ripe damson, blackberry, black currant and hints of earthy spice. Look for similar flavors on the palate. Round tannins frame the long, complex finish. Very dark colour with purplish reflections. Bouquet of black fruit with a discreet woody mineral undertone. Pleasant concentration and expressive flavours. An elaborate, complex cuvée that is definitely worth cellaring for a while.

Gold medal winner: Médaille d'Or, Paris 2023

80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% ABV. Drink by end February 2033. About £13 a bottle.

Decent price at £13

[Barry]

It's been a difficult day today, so good slug of

16 year Lagavulin

According to Ian Buxton:

Colour: Deep gold.
Nose: Intense peat rush, followed by sweet oranges and toffee.
Taste: A huge, mouth-filling whisky. Dry, then some sherries sweetness with toffee and salty hint.
Finish: Massive peat smoke and salty climax.

[rmcin626]

It's been a difficult day today, so good slug of

16 year Lagavulin

According to Ian Buxton:

Colour: Deep gold.
Nose: Intense peat rush, followed by sweet oranges and toffee.
Taste: A huge, mouth-filling whisky. Dry, then some sherries sweetness with toffee and salty hint.
Finish: Massive peat smoke and salty climax.

Lovely dram

[Barry]

Château Haut Pougnan, Château Les Moutins Bordeaux Rouge, 2019

"Château Les Moutins has been a family-owned estate since 1852. Located on the right bank slopes of the Garonne River, the 60 hectare vineyard benefits from clay, limestone and chalk soils thet contribute to the fresh, expressive bouquet of its wines. A bold radiant red robe, the nose unveils light and fruity aromas. Suave and smooth opening on the palate, with great roundness and balance."

Château Les Moutins, 2019 was a great vintage – well balanced with deliciously ripe fruit. Nearly-all Merlot, this velvety claret makes delightful drinking now and over the next 4 years.

Tasting notes:
Silky red fruits, creamy plum, sapid and leafy

Aroma:
Juicy plum, redcurrant, floral hints, green leaf

Winner of eight gold medals in 2020 and 2021.

13% ABV. 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. About £20 a bottle. Drink by end of 2026.

[Barry]

2019 B by Fonbadet, Bordeaux

From a fourth-generation-owned Pauillac cellar, B de Fonbadet may fall under the humble Bordeaux label, but it’s intensity and complexity leave no doubt about its high-end quality. This 2019 has won the Decanter’s esteemed Platinum medal.

"B by Fonbadet is a ripe, supple expression of Bordeaux's finest fruit and the excellence of the 2019 vintage. Combining Sauvignon and Merlot grape, it is aged six months in barrel. The wine is smooth and elegant with ripe blackcurrant, plum and cherry notes. It will continue to give pleasure over the next few years."

Tasting notes:
Mellow tannins, rich black fruits and cedar spice

Aroma:
Cassis, black plum, cherry, cedar, chocolate, tobacco

13.5% ABV About £16 a bottle. Drink by end of 2030.


I'm really enjoying this wine - good job I ordered half a case. The only snag is the shape of the bottle means it is difficult to lay it down.

[Barry]

Baron Augustin, Grande Réserve, Bordeaux 2019

"Baron Augustin evokes delicate notes of red fruit such as raspberries and redcurrants."

"An attractive and elegant palate of strawberriy and mocha leads on to beautifully balanced and soft tannins."


Tasting Notes: A savoury mix of red and black fruits, quite full-bodies with some pepper

60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon

13.5% ABV. About £7 a bottle.

Found this at the back of my wine store. Given its very cheap price it is a quite palatable wine; though obviously not as good as more expensive Bordeaux wines. Later vintages may well be better and still offer good value.

[Barry]

Château Gigault Cuvée Viva, Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux, 2014

Across the river from famous Margaux lies the Premières Côtes de Blaye. With Stéphane Derenoncourt as winemaker, this terrific estate is ensuring the region’s wines get the recognition they deserve. Cuvée Viva is a rich, world-class, modern claret.

"Voici quelques roses, d'un bouquet de silence
Invitées au milléseme de ta tendre jeunesse
Vendange Joyeuse de tes rires d'adolescence
Amitié du vin gai en sa nobel promesse."

(Here are some roses, from a bouquet of silence
Invited to the vintage of your tender youth
Joyful harvest of your adolescent laughter
Friendship of the wine gay in its noble promise.)

Sensational deep shade of expectant red. Redcurrants and paprika nose. Blackcurrant and dark chocolate mocha with a hint of tannin.

Tasting notes: Deep, black cherry fruit with hints of paprika spice and tobacco.
Aroma: Exotic, ripe red and black fruits with vanilla oak and spice.

Merlot grape based. 13.5% ABV. Drink up by end of 2025. About £20 a bottle.

[Barry]

Not the golden elixir, but a couple of books about it:

The Classic Whisky Guide by Jim Murray



ISBN 978-1-85375-741-9 (1977)

Jim Murray is the world's only full-time whiskey writer, and, despite his outspoken views, is much in demand as a consultant to the industry on both sides of the Atlantic.

Unlike anyone else in the field he has visited just about every working whisky distillery in the world and sampled its product in the true locale - a labour of love which has given him insight into the spirit in all its varied forms.




The Legend of LAPHROIAG by Marcel van Gils & Hans Offringa



ISBN 978-90-89100-276 (2007)

This 'coffee table' book of one of my favourite Islay whiskies is a delight to read and is a labour of love by the authors. Not only does it chart the development and history of the distillery, but includes photographs of all the bottles and packaging used over the years.


As an added bonus, both books were picked up at a recent boot-sale for 50p each, and both are in mint condition.