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Clos des Fous Pour Ma Gueule Valle del Itata 2016

Clos des Fous Pour Ma Gueule Valle del Itata 2016

Clos des Fous Pour Ma Gueule Valle del Itata 2016

Medium bright ruby color. Nose of berries, sppices, earth and a touch of lovely and green Pepper like greeness. On the palate the acidity level is good, the wine is fresh with a long lasting finish. The flavors are all about red and dark berries, spices and earth. This wine is very generous for its price point. Good+ (88)

Made of Malbec, Syrah, Cinsault, Pais and Carmenère. Alcohol level of 15$

Available in SAQ stores for 20,45$ (Code SAQ : 12797686)

Clos des Fous website: closdesfous.com

Clos des Fous is represented in Québec by Trialto : trialto.com

Joseph Faiveley Volnay 1er Cru Santenots 2010

Joseph Faiveley Volnay 1er Cru Santenots 2010

Joseph Faiveley Volnay 1er Cru Santenots 2010

Even garnet color through the glass. Elegant nose with load of fruit flavors, spices, earth, dried flowers and something that reminds me of crushed rocks. Good mouthfeel with just enough strenght to feel the tannins, but civilized enough to be enjoyed. The fruit is expressive with a meaty twist, earth and spices flavors. This Pinot was really good and it did delivered up to my expectations. Excellent+ (92)

Made of Pinot Noir. Aged in oak barrels for 16 to 18 months, 2/3 of them being new. Alcohol level of 13%

 

Was sold at the SAQ Signature for 79,00$ (Code SAQ : 12029249)

Domaine Joseph Faiveley’s website: domaine-faiveley.com

Trialto represents Faiveley in Québec: trialto.com

For more informatio. and critic notes on this wine: klwines.com

Souper au Quartier Général fin janvier 2018

We had this wine in a BYOB restaurant in Montréal

 

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave

Tasting of 2013 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage wines or when wine bring silence into a room…

Why say such a thing? First, let’s take a moment and talk about what is the Domaine Jean-Louis Chave.

Among the great wines of the world, within the French wine elite, the Hermitage appellation sitting in Northern Rhone Valley are ranking at the top of this scale with Chave being one of the best ones.

The story

The Domaine Chave is a family story since 1481 and 16 generations have run this house since its beginning, from father to son. They started producing wines in Saint-Joseph and it’s been only about a century since they established themselves on the hills of Hermitage to move away from phylloxera that had damaged their other vineyards.

They now own about 15 hectares of vines spread out on many climates (or areas) of the Hermitage hills and when vinified, they are blended together to produce one amazing wine of each color. There is no single parcel wine nor special cuvees. Just the best of what Hermitage can offer, either in white or red!

They may be hard to find and not the cheapest wines around, but how could one refuse to have them when so kindly offered!

Following a tasting in the offices of their agency, the following wines were poured to help this another busy year to end on the best note possible.

The wines

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 2013

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 2013

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 2013

Medium dense gold color. Aromas of hay, honey with some fruit and oak notes. There is a real depth to that nose, but at the same time, it’s so hard to put words on my impressions. On the palate, the balance between the well-integrated oak that acts like a support to the fruit and spices flavors is so impressive. And I’m not even talking about the everlasting finish! This is what amazed me the most about this wine. Excellent+ (92)

Blend of Marsanne (85%) and Roussanne (15%). Haven’t found any details about the oak ageing. Alcohol level of 14,5%

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Rouge 2013

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Rouge 2013

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Rouge 2013

Dark and can’t see through color. Elegantly and deep nose as I’ve so rarely felt before. Way more aromatic than the white Hermitage was. Aromas of pepper, bacon fat, flowers, red and dark berries, then smoke and old wooden floors are just mind blowing. On the palate the wine is dense, long, of medium amplitude with flavors of smoked meat, flowers and oak. Again, the finish is everlasting. Amazing wine, there is no other way to describe it. Superb+ (94)

Blend of Syrah (85%) and white grapes (15%). Aged in a mix of oak vats and barrels with a proportion is new for 12 to 18 months. Alcohol level of 14,5%

The Domaine Jean-Louis Chave website : hermite.fr/domaine-jean-louis-chave

Their agency here in Québec is Réserve & Sélection / Trialto : trialto.com

 

Thank you!

Domaine du Cros Lo Sang del Païs Marcillac 2015

Domaine du Cros Lo Sang del Païs Marcillac 2015 

Domaine du Cros Lo Sang del Païs Marcillac 2015 

Ruby color with purple hue. Bloody and meaty yet showing freshnessberries and spices notes. Crunchy fruit flavors on the palate with more dark berries than red oneswith some sweet spicesmeat notes and everything for a wine to pair well with BBQ grilled meat dishes. Good+ (88)

Made of 100% Fer Servadou. Aged in stainless tanks. Alcohol level of 12,5% 

Available in SAQ stores for 16,80$ (Code SAQ : 00743377) 

Domaine du Cros website : domaine-du-cros.com 

Sample proposed by Trialto: trialto.com 

La Fleur de Haut Bages Libéral Pauillac 2012

La Fleur de Haut Bages Libéral Pauillac 2012

La Fleur de Haut Bages Libéral Pauillac 2012

Very dark ruby color. Nose of red and black berries, spices, earth, but it’s fresh and inviting! About the same as the nose for the flavors, there is structure and body, but it doesn’t lower its freshness. This was tasty and enjoyable! Very good+ (90)

Blend of 80% cabernet sauvignon and 20% merlot. Aged in 1-2 years old oak barrels for 12 months. Alcohol level of 12,5% 

Available at the SAQ for 44,00$ (Code SAQ: 11454526)

Château Haut Bages Libéral’s website: hautbagesliberal.com

Sample proposed by Trialto: trialto.com

François Villard Comme une Évidence Crozes-Hermitage 2014

François Villard Comme une Évidence Crozes-Hermitage 2014

François Villard Comme une Évidence Crozes-Hermitage 2014

 

Dark purple color. Nose of crushed rock, flowers and black berries in an expressive and fine way. On the palate though, this was serious! Flavors of bacon fat, warm spices, black berries, have a good lenght but ends in a round finish. A beautiful Syrah wine, perfect candidate for cellaring! Very good+ (90)

Made of Syrah. Aged 15 months in 3 to 5 years old oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13%

Available in SAQ stores for 35,25$  (Code SAQ : 12474019)

Domaine François Villard’s website: domainevillard.com

Sample proposed by Trialto: trialto.com

McManis Cabernet Sauvignon California 2015

McManis Cabernet Sauvignon California 2015

McManis Cabernet Sauvignon California 2015

Dark color. Nose of ripe berries, spices and a hint of brown sugar. There is no doubt, this wine charms “à la Californienne” with its perfume. On the palate the fruit feels ripe also (but the wine is completly dry), follows sweet spice flavors and a welcomed bitterness appeared on the finish paired with a good acidity. Good choice of wine, especially if you’re going see friends or family. Good (87) 

Blend of 95% Cabernet-Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. Have less than  3g/l of residual sugar. Aged 6 months in a blend of new and used French and American oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13,5%

Available in SAQ stores for 19,95$ (Code SAQ : 13088101)

McManis Family Vineyards website: mcmanisfamilyvineyards.com

Sample proposed by Trialto: trialto.com

Bonny Doon A Proper Claret California 2013

Bonny Doon A Proper Claret California 2013

Bonny Doon A Proper Claret California 2013

Dense and purple color. Nose of black berries, earth, sweet spices and some new leather. Round, silky and fresh on the palate with a good acidity level and some strenght, but soften by the wine texture and flavors. Notes of berries, spices and a hint of green pepper. This was really tasty! Very good (89)

Blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 15% Tannat, 13% Petit Verdot, 8% Syrah, 1% Petite Sirah. Aged in oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13,2%

Available at the SAQ for 19,95$ (Code SAQ : 12495961)

Bonny Doon Vineyard’s website: bonnydoonvineyard.com

Randall Grahm and his wines are represented in Québec by Trialto: trialto.com

Bonny Doon A Proper Claret California 2013

Clos des Fous Pour ma Gueule Del Sur Itata 2014

Clos des Fous Pour ma Gueule Del Sur Itata 2014

Clos des Fous Pour ma Gueule Del Sur Itata 2014 

Dark purple color. Nose of black berries, spices and earth. Wide and mouth coating, it is more intense than other Clos des Fous’s wines, but is still balanced and perfect for those who likes deeper and bigger wines. Good+ (88) 

Blend of  Malbec, Cinsault, Pais and Syrah. Aged in used oak barrels for 12 months. Alcohol level of 14%

Still available in few SAQ stores, but also online for 19,65$ (Code SAQ : 12797686)

Clos des Fous’s website: closdesfous.com

Sample proposed by Trialto / Réserve et Sélection: trialto.com

Birichino Besson Vineyard Central Coast California 2014

Birichino Besson Vineyard Central Coast California 2014

Birichino Besson Vineyard Central Coast California 2014 

Bright ruby color. Fine nose where homemade small berry jam pairs with garrigue style herbs. This have such beautiful aromas. Bright, great red berry flavors, some herbs, spices notes, it’s fresh, just round enough, good acidity. If California could offer more of that type of wine! Very good+ (90)

Made of own-rooted 100 years old grenache vines. Aged in neutral French oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13,0

Available at the SAQ for 26,10$ (Code SAQ : 12486386)

Birichino’s website: birichino.com

Sample proposed by Trialto: trialto.com