FRENCH WINE

Idee Folle translates to ?crazy idea?. This is an unusual blend of white wine grapes (Gros Manseng, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay) which has had an eau-de-vie added to halt fermentation, retaining the wine?s residual sugars.

Château de Fesles Bonnezeaux is a yellow, almost ochre-coloured wine. It has an expressive, vinous nose with notes of lemon, citrus fruit and white flowers. This wine is nicely alcoholic, warm and spicy on the palate. This Bonnezaux has a semi-dry style and a slight taste of peach kernel. Bonnezeaux is 100% Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley.

This elegant red (100% Tannat) comes from 30 year old vines in the Madiran appellation, south-west France. The Chateau Aydie red is fine, elegant and complex on the nose, with a blend of black fruit and coffee aromas. A very rich attack is followed by a quite mature consistency and silky tannins. This is an exceptional Madiran, powerful and complex, with good ageing potential.

Covering 68 villages of the Pyr?n?es-Orientales and nine villages of the Aude, Rivesaltes is the largest appellation for vins doux naturels.

These wines are made using the three main varieties of Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Grenache Noir and Macabeu. Malvoisie and Muscat can also be used in some styles.

Vin doux naturel is made using an addition of neutral grape spirit to stop fermentation early, therefore retaining more of the grape's residual sugar.

The wines are aged oxidatively developing rancio, nuts and caramel flavors which are balanced by the high acidity of the grapes used. These wines can age for eternity.

Macon is the southernmost terroir in the Bourgogne wine region. The warmer Southern climate produces richer, fruitier Chardonnay's in comparison to the wider region. The M?connais white wines are floral and fruity on the nose and rich and well structured, but with good acidity. 

This Chardonnay is made to be drunk young. The nose shows floral aromas and a distinct freshness. On the palate, the wine is vibrant and fruity with balanced acidity. This is an extremely food friendly and versatile wine.

Jeb Dunnuck - 94 Points 

"Mostly Grenache with 15% Syrah brought up in foudre and old barrels, the 2019 Côtes Du Rhône Les Quartz tastes like a Châteauneuf du Pape as opposed to a Côtes du Rhône and offers a powerful bouquet of red and black fruits, melted licorice, and peppery garrigue. With loads of Provençal charm, full-bodied richness, and supple tannins, it's already hard to resist, and I see no need to delay gratification. Drink this beautiful Côtes du Rhône over the coming 5-7 years."

From a long line of wine growers passing down from father to son, Charles Audoin took over the family property in 1972 with his wife Marie Francoise. Charles? son Cyril joined his father in 2000 and is now responsible for the vines and winemaking. Located within the commune of Marsannay La Cote, the domaine stretches over almost 35 acres, and the diversity of soils and grapes makes it possible to produce a range of fourteen different wines.

The 2018 Blason de l'Evangile is made up of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc; Merlot was harvested September 19 to October 2, and Cabernet Franc was picked September 25 to October 1. Deep garnet-purple colored, it gives up open, spicy scents of powdered cinnamon, cloves and aniseed with a core of black cherry compote, warm plums, chocolate box and dried mint. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-coating black fruits with tons of evocative, spicy accents, framed by rounded tannins and finishing with a lively lift.

Reviewed by Lisa Perrotti-Brown - 91 - 93 (Wine Advocate)

100% Chenin Blanc from the Savenierres appellation in Loire. Yeasty, herbaceous and floral on the nose with a smoky mineral tinge. The palate is ripe, dense and juicy with herbaceous and floral notes, again with a hint of minerality. The acidity in this wine is very elegant, enhancing the fruity elements on the medium-bodied palate.

Quarts de Chaume is famous from its delicious wines made from the great Chenin Blanc grape in the Loire Valley in Central France. Domaine Baumard is one of, if not, the best producers. All of the wines are sealed with screwcaps to preserve the freshness of this outstanding grape variety, which is insanely beautifully balanced here by refreshing acidity which is naturally high in the Chenin Blanc grape - and carries residual sweetness in the wine superbly. 

If you're looking for a special wine, here it is- and it can age for 10+ years and then some. When it is stored well, old Chenin is like old Riesling; almost bulletproof and certainly likely to develop a depth and breadth of flavour that is almost unrivalled.

The name Quarts de Chaume comes from a tradition that dates back to the middle ages when farmers were required to pay one quarter of the proceeds from their harvests to the Seigneur, keeping the remaining three quarters for themselves, which accounts for the ?s? in Quarts de Chaume. 

The area?s geology is schist and pudding sandstone with a south facing location overlooking the Layon River where the morning mists are ideal for the development of noble rot.

Aging potential unrivalled

When stored well, wines such as this one can age for at least 10 years to an indefinite period from good vintages.

Reviewed by: Joe Czerwinski

Drink Date: 2023 - 2035
A 60-40 blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre aged in a combination of demi-muids and new barriques, the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Renaissance shows plenty of smoky, toasty nuances laid over the top of roasted cherries. Full-bodied, rich and velvety in texture, it finishes long, with overtones of mocha lingering on the finish. It's oaky now, but it should improve with short-term cellaring. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.

I confess to being slightly disappointed in the offerings from this fine domaine this year. The Grangeon family owns vineyards in some superb sandy sites, including the lieux-dits of Cristia and la Font du Loup, but the 2019s and 2020s (to a lesser extent) are too easy in style, and some cuvees are overly marked by wood. Still, there is no denying their commercial appeal. The 2020 white, however, showed well on both occasions I tasted it. Baptiste Grangeon is picking those grapes a bit early "to keep the freshness," then compensating by using a bit more new oak and bâtonnage.

"I was a big fan of 2019 and less of 2020 in the beginning," Grangeon said as we tasted through the range. "But with time, I like '20 more and more." Alcohol levels here were close to 16% in 2019 but more like 15% in 2020. "You can't get in '19 what we got in '16—that was a perfectly balanced vintage. Chateauneuf is supposed to be a fine and elegant wine," Grangeon added in closing.

Looking at the older wines, the 2011 (there was only a single cuvee produced) should be consumed without further delay, and the 2001 came across as tired and of only academic interest at this point (no review given). As a rough rule of thumb, I would suggest drinking these wines within their first decade.

Published: May 06, 2022

Fleshy, full bodied French red that is made from a blend of 70% Syrah with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, which include a portion of whole bunches in each variety's ferment prior to blending. The wine was fermented with natural yeasts and pumped over during fermentation. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, it represents a minimal approach to winemaking and is a lithe, silky red with structure and weight to age for five to six years. 

Drinks superbly well now with game food and savoury flavours.