Gastronomy

Château Brane-Cantenac 2015: An exceptional vintage

Second classified growth in 1855, Château Brane-Cantenac, with a vineyard of 75 hectares in AOC Margaux, presents this magnificent wine with great aromatic richness and accomplished and harmonious style. Château Brane-Cantenac 2015, 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot, offers irresistible complexity of fruits on the nose: Boysenberry, candied raspberry, and crushed strawberry, all mixed with pressed violets and underlying chalky/mineral notes. The fresh, linear, and dense palate presents a rare elegance with depth, richness, beautiful supple and delicate tannins, a fine acidity, and an immensely long finish!

Price: €105 at the Domaine and wine shops.

Château la Castille Aubert Rouge 2020: The Lord's vines at the Elysée table

This 160-hectare estate, one of the oldest in the Var, is located on a farm certified "High Environmental Value Level 3" since 2019 and currently undergoing "Terra Vitis" certification. Made from a rigorous parcel selection of the best Syrah, Carignan, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, the Aubert cuvée grapes are raised with special attention. This wine is a tribute to the "Aubert" family, who donated the estate to the Diocese of Fréjus-Toulon in 1922. Château de Castille now combines the world of vines and wine with the missions of the various works of the Church. The Aubert Rouge AOP Côtes de Provence cuvée was carefully selected in 2021 by the Head Sommelier of the Elysée Palace to be part of the Presidential Palace's cellar and served to guests. They will be able to appreciate the aromas of candied fruits, leather, and vanilla of the powerful Aubert Rouge 2020.

Price: €22 at wine shops.

Château Fourcas Hosten 2017: Precision and elegance

Today composed of an 18th-century chartreuse in the middle of a 3-hectare park adjacent to a 50-hectare vineyard, Château Fourcas Hosten has been extending its history since 1810 to constantly reinvent itself. The property has been certified organic by Ecocert since November 2020. Château Fourcas Hosten is a member of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux, the Bordeaux Wine Academy, and the Commanderie du Bontemps du Médoc, des Graves, de Sauternes et de Barsac. Château Fourcas Hosten 2017 is the result of a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot. With 2/3 Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2017 vintage has character and very good tannin quality. Very pleasant to drink now, it offers delicious notes of fresh red fruits and spices, a harmonious mouthfeel, and a suave and gourmet finish. This cuvée won a gold medal at the 2021 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles.

Price: €20 for direct sale at the estate and online shop.

Château La Gaffelière 2019: A perfect balance

As a historic Grand Cru of Saint-Emilion, the reputation of Château La Gaffelière has endured through the centuries. Its vineyard covers 38 hectares in production with an average vine age of 35 years. Since 2013, La Gaffelière's agricultural practices have been committed to agroecology and sustainable farming. The Malet Roquefort family is dedicated to protecting and preserving this precious terroir. Made from 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, Château La Gaffelière 2019 presents a dark and intense color. It surprises with its silky and intense texture on the palate, while being round and opulent with a rich nose. It can be enjoyed young and will also age well for up to 20 years.

Price: €80 at wine merchants.

Pouilly-Fuissé Premier Cru Aux Chailloux 2020 Terres Secrètes:

For several generations, the 120 families of Vignerons des Terres Secrètes have been passionately producing wine in the heart of Mâconnais, the "sunny south of Burgundy". Since 2013, they have been recognized as "Committed Winemakers" for their dedication to sustainable and responsible production. They now represent 906 hectares of AOC vineyards, including this selection of 18 ares located in the town of Solutré-Pouilly, where the grapes for this Pouilly-Fuissé Premier Cru Aux Chailloux are grown. This 2020 vintage from Vignerons des Terres Secrètes stands out for its rich aromatic profile and intense notes of white fruit. On the palate, its fullness and finesse lead to elegant notes of flint.

Price: €28.50 at wine merchants.

Château Cambon La Pelouse 2019: Certified Exceptional Cru Bourgeois

Located on the edge of the Margaux appellation, Château Cambon La Pelouse, one of the oldest Châteaux in the Médoc, has a beautiful vineyard of 65 hectares. Sebastien Long, son of a French winemaker, is the new manager, having worked for the Australian group for 9 years. His ambition is to continue to improve the property's wines by bringing his experience gained in France, California, and... Australia. Château Cambon La Pelouse 2019, AOC Haut-Médoc is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot. On the palate, it seduces with its richness and deliciousness, its structure, its complex notes of red and black fruits, and its light woody notes. It can be enjoyed from 2021 until 2031.

Price: €16.80 at wine merchants.

Château Margüi Rouge 2020: Iconic Vintage

In the heart of the green Provence, Château Margüi is a true invitation to the Varois sweet life, offering wine lovers exceptional wines from a unique terroir. At the foot of the Sainte-Baume and Bessillons massifs, the estate benefits from a rare natural environment, bathed by the Argens river and crossed by three natural springs. AOP Côteaux Varois en Provence and organic, Château Margüi Rouge 2020 is a blend of Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah grapes. Deep ruby color, a nose characterized by notes of black fruits such as crise, marasque and fresh cassis, with hints of chocolate, garrigue, and a toasted finish in the background after aeration. On the palate, the tannins are fine and present in a powdery, chocolaty spirit. Generosity balances with the presence of black fruits and spices, interwoven with a vegetal bouquet of Provence herbs.

Price: €23 at wine merchants, at the Domaine's boutique, and on the website.