Domaine Mourchon July 2017
Having supported this wonderful estate in the hills overlooking Mt. Ventoux since its inception in 1998, it was great to revisit. The wines are showing real potential and now winning one award after another from acclaimed international critics.
Walter McKinley was his usual charming self and still kicking the world around at 84 years of age.
EWGA has decided to list their full range of wines and propose an offer to run for six months promoting its classic reds and also refreshing whites and rosé.
We discovered a dessert Roussanne called “le Secret”. Only 500 half bottles are made from a little plot. This is a small half-barrel.
EWGA has commissioned the 2017 vintage of this wine in its entirety. It will be aged nine months in wood and released next summer.
The wine is really delicate in both colour and flavour and really yummy.
Aujoux July 2017
EWGA has represented Aujoux in the UK for nearly 20 years and visits their premises near Julienas regularly. On this trip, we were hosted at Chateau Lacarelle in Beaujolais Villages and Domaine Demiene in Brouilly.
The older vintages of Lacrelle had the reminiscent tastes of old pinto noir found in good gamay, especially the 2011. We also tasted a charming Beaujolais blanc (chardonnay).
The quality of the wine at Aujoux has improved significantly, watch out for some exciting new wines.
Moment de Plaisir Viognier/Sauvignon, Vins de France Chardonnay and Pinot Noir offer the best “Burgundy” value ever, plus a range of Jacques depagneaux macon whites, macon Loche, St Veran and macon Blamc Villages upgrade.
Chapoutier July 2017
Always a great tasting and heavenly to be surrounded by those amazing vineyards going back in history to Roman times. The highlight of the trip was the view across the Rhone to the Hill of Hermitage, up the Rhone to Condrieu and the walking through St Joseph Les Grantis (Marsanne at its best).
St Peray Blanc Sparkling – 3000 bottles a year of great sparkling Marsanne.
Bila Haut ‘Occultum Lapidem’ white and red are unbeatable quality from Roussillon.
Mathilda Shiraz and Marsanne Viognier are exciting cool climate-style wines from Victoria.
La Bastide St Dominique August 2017
For many of us the highlight of the week. Eric develops the family vineyard’s inheritance with an incredibly electric selection of pedigree wines. All estate wines are organically certified.
The walk through the upper hills of the Chateauneuf appellation is the best way to appreciate these wines. Tasting the Secret de Pignon and les Herperides is heaven. The 2020 vintage Secret de Pignon will be made with 100-year-old vines, rare indeed in Europe.
These special plots look down on Ch. Rayas as Beaucastel. What incredible value.
At the other end of the spectrum, The Rousanne IGP made over the river is really exciting and will appear in September. The new Cairanne AOP is equally delicious. All the family wines are just great with some real value negotiant wines as well.
