Editorial

 

Éditorial April 14, 2020

 

As the Covid-19 pandemic invades the entire world, we must believe and hope in the capacity of our humanity, capable of the worst destruction as well as the most beautiful achievements, to overcome this unprecedented ordeal.

It was therefore in very special circumstances that we composed this selection in March, which usually marks the happy arrival of spring.

Thus, we have willingly chosen to limit our commercial margin this season by lowering the price by more than a third of the wines already present in the previous catalogue, i.e. nearly 400 wines concerned. This is our (very modest) contribution to the common effort in these difficult times.

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For this season, we have first of all completed our selection of Bordeaux from the new 2017 vintage recently bottled in all the appellations:

  • dry whites: Clos Floridène, Carbonnieux, Domaine de Chevalier...
  • left bank reds: Haut-Marbuzet, Malescot Saint-Exupéry, Grand-Puy Lacoste, Pontet-Canet, Cos d'Estournel, Léoville-Las Cases, La Mission Haut-Brion...
  • right bank reds: La Mauriane, Clos Puy Arnaud, Fleur de Boüard, Petit-Village, La Gaffelière, Figeac, Vieux-Certan, L'Église-Clinet, Cheval-Blanc...

Although 2017 is not in competition with its glorious neighbours (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019) for red Bordeaux, it is nevertheless a beautiful and great vintage with very real qualities.

Particularly the sweetness of the tannins, which Jean-Marc Quarin has just confirmed: "The vintage offers an unprecedented charm and is already very easy to access. The tannin is never felt when it is there. That's what makes this vintage a little Burgundian".

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Four Tasting Offers are dedicated to two white and two red wines :

  • Clos Larrouyat "Météore" 2019 organic, on the occasion of the entry of the Jurançon appellation into our columns (with the Domaine de Sarros), the tutelary appellation of Manseng - big and small, this grape variety with admirable qualities of richness and subtlety in dry and sweet. The cuvée Météore is a dry Jurançon at 16.00 € per bottle.
  • Domaine de Chevalier blanc 2016, whose natural vivacity is perfectly softened and balanced by the generosity of the 2016 vintage. For the Revue du Vin de France, the best Pessac-Léognan white 2016, at 83.50 € a bottle.
  • Château Moulin Haut-Laroque 2016, this Fronsac has used the 2016 vintage to make its best wine to date. An ideal base for any short, medium or long term tasting, at 21.00 € per bottle.
  • Château Bellefont-Belcier 2017, grand cru classé de Saint-Émilion, on a first class terroir on a hillside wedged between Larcis-Ducasse and Le Tertre-Rôteboeuf. First vintage and first masterstroke of the new team put in place, of a superlative tannic softness: 40,00 € the bottle.

In addition, two new 6-bottle Mixed Cases to discover the talent of two Bordeaux producers:

  • Jean Chanfreau, from Listrac (white and red) to Moulis, a trip to the heart of the Médoc in the vintages 2014 to 2016, at €90.00 per 6 bottles,
  • Xavier Copel, from Bordeaux (3 reds) to Spain (2 reds), via Cahors (1 red), all in the 2016 vintage, at €210.00 per 6 bottles.

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Among the other novelties, we also had the pleasure to retain this season :

  • Bordeaux: Closeries des Moussis (Haut-Médoc and Margaux), a new organic gem, in the line of Mille Roses or Clos du Jaugueyron,

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Finally, we conclude with the most intense and fruity crème de cassis that there is, that of Maison Joannet in Burgundy, for innumerable summer applications (pure, in kir, on a fruit salad or an ice cream, as a topping for a fromage blanc or a pastry...).

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