The region of Haut Médoc may be one of the most famous in the wine world as it encompasses the appellations of Margaux, Listrac, Moulis, St. Julien, Pauillac and St. Estèphe. Like many châteaux in this illustrious peninsula just north of the city of Bordeaux, the history of Château Pontoise Cabarrus is a long one, one that begins with the Cabarrus family in 1570. Being of Basque origin, the family settled in Capbreton, near Bayonne in the middle of the 16th century. With keen business savvy and growing real estate holdings, this family quickly became known in Bordeaux for its great fortune and it was Jean Valère Cabarrus who purchased well-known Château Lagrange at the end of the 18th century. The acquisition of Château Pontoise soon followed. Today, the château is currently in the hands of François Tereygeol and his wife Odette and still bears the Cabarrus name. Côte Pontoise refers to their second bottling and although the region is known for its Cabernet based powerhouse reds, this offering is primarily Merlot in cépage with smaller amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon. Being one whose palate leans to the more Cabernet driven Bordeaux, I was pleasantly surprised by the supple nature of this Merlot inspired Haut Médoc! Being an affordable and interesting alternative to their first label, Côte Pontoise offers incredible drinkability and depth. All of the influence of the Haut Médoc's gravelly soil is prominent in this red yet there is a softness and richness of fruit that is unmistakably Merlot. The nose reveals lively black fruits, black olive, earth and truffle while the palate is warm and inviting with velvety plum and blackcurrant and creamy, toasted oak. With a lingering, soft finish, this intriguing red will warm the soul on even the most frigid of nights. Sit by the fire with your favorite stemware in hand and pour a glass.
Marchesi dè Frescobaldi Tenuta di Castiglioni Giramonte 2004 Tuscany
In scanning our inventory for end of year, my husband and I decided to take home a bottle of Marchesi dè Frescobaldi's Giramonte 2004 and were extremely pleased to discover this wine still in stock in our cellar! Upon tasting our first sips of this elegant red, I was struck by the wine's voluptuous yet restrained nature and its powerful yet delicate palate. It is almost regal. This item was recently put on our inventory blowout sale so I would suggest acting swiftly if my words convince you. First of all, the name Frescobaldi is probably familiar to most, as this 700 year old winery is no less than a benchmark producer in Tuscany. Their ability to churn out many wines, yet maintain their vineyard profile and regional identity in each has been the key to their success. Ironically, the epic story of this top winery began at Tenuta di Castiglioni (the home of the Giramonte vineyard). This estate lies in the heart of the Florentine hills in the village of Motespertoli where the silty-clay soils and perfect sun exposure give birth to some of the most concentrated and memorable wines of Tuscany. The Giramonte vineyard, entirely replanted in the early 1990s, yielded its first release in 2002 and since its onset, has been garnering much praise and recognition. With a cépage of 80% Merlot and 20% Sangiovese, this 800 case production Super Tuscan embodies the characteristics of 'new world' Tuscany while maintaining its old world charm and integrity with such flair and finesse. Luca Maroni referred to the '03 of this wine as the 2nd best red wine in Italy in his 2006 Annuario del Vini and Antonio Galloni of the Wine Advocate describes the '04 as a wine to keep an eye on for the future. I have to concur with the critics on this one. From its bouquet of earthy blackberry fruit, mint, eucalyptus and balsam fir to its palate of intensely sumptuous dark red fruits and spiced oak, this wine exudes richness and profound character with its compelling and lingering finish of vanilla, cinnamon and menthol. Pair this full bodied, finesse driven red with your favorite roast and partake on a wonderful adventure.
