Macon Uchizy Wins Gold in Le Concours de Paris

News just in ,that Cave Talmard have picked up the gold medal for their white Burgundy Macon Uchizy 2009. The wine is made by Paul Talmard and his daughter Mallory and has been one of our biggest sellers here in Jus De Vine for  quite a while now.
 Macon Uchizy is 100% Chardonnay and this particular one does not see any oak. It is pale yellow in the glass with aromas of fresh green apples, nut  flavours and showing just a touch of honey on the finish. This is the the ultimate all rounder and fantastic value at €13.99,  so seek it out!

Enjoy,

Julie
JUS DE VINE, PORTMARNOCK

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Macon- Villages BUT made by Pierrette and Marc Guillemot-Michel

Marc and Pierrette Guillemot own a Domaine of 7 hectares in the commune of Quintaine, adjacent to the village of Clesse.They took over the domaine from Pierette’s parents in 1985. Both are oenolgists from the school of Beaune and post-graduates from Montpellier and they have applied their studies to combine both scientific and homeopathic principles in their wine making.
On taking over the vineyard Marc and Pierrette left the Cave Co-operative system.Organic methods of production were used for the first three years as they believed this system made finer, more characterful wines. They use no artificial herbicides or pesticides and produce their own compost for the vines from a blend of marc (the cake of skins and pips left after the grapes are pressed) and manure from organically reared animals.
During the harvest, they systematically taste their way through the vineyards, tagging those vines whose fruit they think have markedly interesting characteristics and concentration. In February cuttings from these are taken to graft onto root stock and, gradually, the vineyards will be replanted with these homegrown, especially selected vines.

Limiting the size of the crop is one of the most important factors in the production of exceptional wines in the Maconnais. To restrict quantities, Marc and Pierrette only leave one  main stalk when pruning, rather than two as is traditional. This automatically cuts their potential crop in half.

Since 1991 the Guillemots have been bio-dynamic producers.  Bio-dynamic production is basically governed by the movements of the moon. For example, weeding at certain times in the cycle of the moon results in the weeds reappearing less quickly, an important factor when herbicides are not used. Bio-dynamics also involves putting back into the plant part of its production, hence the production of a compost from the marc of grape skins and pips left after pressing.
By far the major proportion of the Guillemots' production is of Macon Clesse, Quintaine. This lovely dry white wine has concentrated fruit and complexity and a richness and depth rarely found in this region. They have experimented with using oak, but feel that even five year old barrels give too much wood flavour to the wine. They prefer to allow the purity of the Chardonnay fruit to shine through.

The current vintage is 2008 ,however I always try to stash a few bottles of the older vintages away when I notice the vintage is changing and they truly show their  full character when about five years old. Even in relative youth it is a very fine Burgundy at €23.

Delicious, serious, attention grabbing wines.... in a contemplative kind of a way..... a bit like the people who make it I suspect!.

Sante,

Evelyn
 The Vintry


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Champagne Taittinger N/V

 




Champagne Taittinger is one of the few Champagne Houses to remain owned(see buy out / buy back below) and actively managed by the family.

They are based in Reims in the Champagne district and their bottles are stored in  ancient  Roman chalk pits  that were created when stone was quarried out to build houses in the region .  They also own substantial  vineyards throughout the region.

  

   Today, Pierre Emmanuel Taittinger heads up this famous house whose origins date back to 1734.
I met him at a dinner while at the Champagne  Academy and heard him telling the men at his end of the table that he never eats cheese when he is going to be with a lady.I got a flash back to the lads in Ireland…can you imagine a Paddy thinking let alone actually  saying “I never drink pints of Guinness or eat Kebabs when I am going to be with a lady! I don`t think so..

Each champagne house has a typical style that is adhered to from vintage to vintage and for Taittinger the word that best describes their approach is elegance. Some others can be quite creamy or nutty or overwhelmingly intense, but at Taittinger it is about the fruit being  allowed to shine.

The blend is 40% Chardonnay 40 % Pinot Noir and 20% Pinot Meurnier and is aged for three to four years before release

Colour: brillient gold straw colour with fine persistent bubbles and a delicate mousse

Nose: bready/brioche and fruity…peach white flowers and vanilla pod

Palate: lively ,balanced  and elegant  with delicate flavours of  fresh fruits and honey with a lovely long concentrated finish.

PIERRE-EMMANUEL TAITTINGER: TALKS ABOUT CHAMPAGNE FOOD& LOVE 
For 3OO years, Champagne has been known as the wine to drink at grand occasions, such as year-end holidays and weddings and graduations. But more and more, Champagne is becoming known as a wine to enjoy at lunch and dinner. Why? Because Champagne matches well all types of gastronomy: French, Asian, Greek, fusion, Chinese, Japanese, Indian. It's very good with spices because it does refresh your palate. Magnum bottles are just the right size for two gentlemen.  Personally I recommend the half-bottle for a lunch for two, say, me and my wife, so you don't waste a full bottle. I adore that.
If you are with a nice partner, you are not tired after Champagne; you are active, in good form, perhaps slightly excited. The only problem is that you might want to make love, and that is not a serious problem. That is why there is a new attitude towards Champagne all over the planet.

PIERRE-EMMANUEL TAITTINGER: TALKS ABOUT THE BUY OUT.
My family is a large one, with seven branches. The family wanted to sell the entire Corporation for tax purposes and simply to get their money. (Seagrams did likewise some years ago.) We put it up for auction and an American group, Starwood, bought it all - Champagne Taittinger, Domaine Carneros, the Loire valley winery, Baccarat Crystal, Hotel du Crillon, Societe du Louvre - everything. That was the will of 9O% of my family. Me, I was in the 1O% who wanted to keep the business. But - I am a democrat - and I had to accept the majority decision. And we do all get along well. My son and I were a little sad, but we had no choice. But then, Starwood stated, "We are a real estate group, we are not specialized in wines." So they decided to sell off Taittinger and Carneros to specialists. Then our branch of the family - my father, brother and children - decided to become candidates to repurchase at least our winery. So they put it on sale, and here were at least ten candidates, from India, America, Britain. So we banded with Credit Agricole, a powerful bank in Champagne, and fought a hard fight for a year with bigger giants. We finally won, partly because we proposed a large check - after debt absorption, about 59OM Euro - but also because we were a family-run affair, like Starwood itself. In the package was the Loire winery and Carneros. We sold the Loire for technical reasons; we liked the very well run winery and the chairman, a very nice man. It was done in a genial manner. But we're keeping Carneros. And we're still on good terms with our family, who can always get the preferred discount on Champagne!

PIERRE-EMMANUEL TAITTINGER: TALKS ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING.

 Global warming is the major issue for the planet. It's the Third World War, and we are in it right now. For the last ten years, the wine world has been positively affected by global warming - good harvest, regular harvest - but it's not going to continue. In the long term, it's going to change our way of life dramatically, and for the worst. I am very pessimistic about this. We're recycling, using vehicles less, driving cars with ethanol, and planning our business activities to conserve. We're avoiding unnecessary business travel, shipping wines by train instead of truck. We're extremely conscientious. At home, we don't take baths anymore, only brief showers; I think of water now as more precious that Champagne.

Taittenger Trivia

Taittinger was a favourite of the literary James Bond.Taittinger was actually Ian Fleming’s favourite Champagne,’ said Justin Llewellyn, brand ambassador for Taittinger and son of gadget master Desmond Llewellyn. We have a letter from  Fleming thanking M. Taittinger for a dozen bottles, and Taittinger was mentioned in Casino Royale, Moonraker, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and Goldfinger.

The last time Taittinger made a screen appearance in the 007 series dates back to 1963’s From Russia with Love.

They approached Claude Taittinger for the next film, but he didn’t want
                                     to  be involved, and we never have been since,’ said Llewellyn.

Secret Agent Jones over and out.
THE VINTRY RATHGAR

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Casa Lapostolle ,Chardonnay, 2006,Casablanca Valley, Chile

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Casa Lapostolle ,Chardonnay, 2006,Casablanca Valley, Chile

Colour
Intense bright yellow, with a hint of lime.
Nose
Fruity, tropical aromas. Pineapples, peaches, white flowers with a touch of spice, quite aromatic
Palate
Very full rich, well rounded palate, with a lovely lingering finish.

Chilean wine is currently the 5 TH largest exporter of wine in the world, and no wonder it has made some serious impressions on the Irish consumer.

Casa Lapostolle was only established  in 1994, yet  this winery is considered one of the best in Chile. The lady behind the wine is Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle who is the great granddaughter of the creator of the French liqueur Grand Marnier. Her top Cuvee's are named after him Cuvee Alexander.

Money is no object, it is rumored that she is worth 30 million.
None the less she works very hard and we met her when she invited us a tasting  of her wines in the Clarence hotel.We had heard she was`tres chic` by any standards so we all put on our glad rags that day! And indeed she was charming and sophisticated as only French ladies can be.In the evening  some of us went to see  Chilean D.J. Ricardo Villalobos in the Olympia so it was a truly South American day out.

Her objective is to be number one is South America, already achieving the highly coveted award from Wine Spectator for their Clos Apalta wine. They have employed Michel Rolland, a  top French wine consultant from Bordeaux to oversee their production,the result is to produce a world class wine with old world expertise and new world fruit.

The winery and vineyards are located a half hour outside of Santiago the Chilean capital. It has  an amazing guest house and several smaller villas with stunning views of the vineyards.The swimming pool actually looks like it is flowing down onto the vineyards Another must see for any wine enthusiast!

Cheers!
Julie 


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