Vitibox

love the freshness of Loire Valley’s chenins. With a fresh goat cheese, it is absolutely delightful. And this chenin from Domaine the Prieuré just confirms that these wines can be amazing. Its nose displays nice aromas of flowers and granny. On the palate, the balance is amazing. The wine is indeed more characterized by its liveliness but it’s perfectly balanced thanks to its remarkable fruity aromas. 

 A beautifull greenish yellow dress with fluid tears..

Sushi
Grilled tuna
Fresh goat cheese
Lemon pie

 The vines are located on hillsides along the Layon River. They are planted on a schist soil. This kind of stone that looks a bit like a millefeuille allows the roots to go very far down the ground, up to eight meters deep ! Therefore, vines can get all the nutrients brought to the soil by the river : an ideal position to give complex and fresh wines. 

When you think about Cahors, it’s not long before you think of Jean-Luc Baldès, one of the most talented winemakers of the appellation. I was not surprised to find in that wine delicious flavours of blackcurrant and of course a lot of tannins, as they are typical characteristics of malbec. However, I was more surprised to feel menthol aromas which were much more unexpected!  

 Garnet colour and mat in the thick tears..

Pork rinds
Goose breast fillets
Saint-Nectaire cheese
Blackcurrant panna cotta

 The terroir of Cahors is known for being very dry. It rains very little, which is a wonderful thing for the grapes that hence can perfectly mature. The Clos Triguedina covers around 65 hectares of mixed clay, silica and limestone. Just remember that this kind of ground ensures that the vine is subjected to enough water stress to make sure that the grapes will develop various aromas. 

It’s as if the beauty of Château d’Eck reflects on its wines like the sun in a mirror. This magnificent castle makes the pride of the Pessac-Léognan appellation. The wine displays aromas of cherry and wood, especially cedar. If you wish, you can keep it in your cellar so its aromas and texture evolve: it can ages up to seven years! 

 Garnet colour, mat and steady..

Parisian duck pie with foie gras
Tournedos rossini
Camembert cheese
Cherry clafoutis

 The Pessac-Léognan appel-lation was created 30 years ago to distinguish the best part of the Graves appellation. Graves is a big appellation that got its name from the stones that lie on the ground (Graves means pebble in old French) and helps the grapes to mature by accumulating the heat during the day and redistributing it during the night. 

Cadillac is a small unknown appellation of Bordeaux, which is a shame as there are magnificent wines elaborated there! Château Le Thys is a good example. Even if it was acquired a few years ago by its neighbour Château Birot, grapes are still vinified separately so as to reveal the whole potential of this specific terroir along the Garonne River.  

 Garnet color in the smooth tears..

Hare terrine
Peppercorn steak
Camembert cheese
Chocolate pie

 Château le Thys’ vines cover around 40 hectares and their specificity is that they are surrounded by tree hedges. It’s a great perk as it protects the grapes from strong winds in their youth (when they are too fragile to stand it) and the soil from erosion. 

This little vineyard in Médoc is a nice discovery. The attack is very pleasant and the aromatic profile of this wine is complex, mainly based on strawberry and blackcurrant aromas perfectly enhanced by a marked acidity. This wine is at the beginning of its peak, but if you enjoy tertiary aromas, it will easily wait for you a few years in your cellar. 

 Ruby deep colour..

Bayonne ham
Flank steak with shallot sauce
Coulommiers cheese
Red berries gratin

 The vines are planted on a particularly thick ground of Graves. These big and hard round pebbles do not retain water and nutrients on the contrary to the layer of clay these lie on. Therefore, vines’ roots have to struggle through the pebbles to get their water and nutrients in the clay. It is a good thing as it forces the vine to be stronger so as to reveal the whole potential of the grapes! 

This nice wine is especially typical of the Crozes-Hermitage renowned appellation. It displays aromas of red berries enhanced by refined spicy flavours. I hope you will appreciate as much as I did the length of this wine that remains long on the palate after swallowing. The perfect wine for French syrah lovers ! It will perfectly pair with a roasted rabbit with mushrooms. 

 A beautiful raspberry dress and crystal clear..

Charcuterie board
Roasted quails with chestnuts
Blue cheese
Chocolate cake with red berry coulis

 Crozes-Hermitage’s vines are planted on hills particularly exposed to the strong winds blowing almost all the time through the north of Rhône Valley. In addition to protecting the grapes from rot and diseases, this wind gives the vines a lot of freshness which allow winemakers to elaborate very complex and refined wines. 

This wine from Château les Donats is absolutely delicious and I am really proud to present it to you ! Very typical of the dry white wines from Bergerac, this batch displays nice aromas of citrus fruits and flowers wonderfully enhanced by a strong acidity that gives all this amazing liveliness to the wine. To pair it perfectly, I suggest you serve it with grilled white fish or oysters. 

 A greenish gold dress and crystal clear..

Oysters
Smoked salmon
Tomme cheese
Orange salad

 Château les Donats’ vines cover 15 hectares on the sides a valley digged throughout the millenniums by the Dordogne River in the heart of Périgord. The plots have various exposures to the sun. This diversity allows choosing just the right exposure for each of the six grapes varieties that are grown in the vineyard. 

This month, let’s go to Bordeaux to discover this magnificent batch by Château de Teste. This wine perfectly reveals the richness of its terroir during the tasting. The colour is purple with dark pink reflection. At the nose I smelled surprising aromas of cinnamon and hibiscus. The wine is also characterized by a good length and it ends on a nice touch of acidity. 

 A beautiful purple dress..

Mushroom pie
Roasted duck breast
Saint-Nectaire cheese
Roasted chestnuts

 The specificity of the Graves appellation is that it got its name from its soil. In French, “graves” are round hard pebbles that are really appreciated by winemakers. Indeed, those retain the warmth provided by the sun during the day and give it back to the grapes at night. Therefore, the berries never stop ripening. 

As I was walking through the hills of Crozes-Hermitage, I discovered a place called « Les Hauts Châssis» where Franck Faugier’s wine estate is located. This talented winemaker is a true syrah lover who elaborates several batches of remarkably refined Crozes-Hermitage. The melted tannins of this slightly spicy wine will perfectly enhance a roasted partridge. 

 A beautiful garnet dress with a streaming drop..

Blood sausages
Roasted partridge
Saint-Marcellin Cheese
Red berry crumble

 Behind such a nice wine, there is no coincidence. It’s first of all the result of beautiful grapes grown on vines more than 50 years old on average. But the relief also plays a predominant role. The vines grow on sloppy hills with a southern exposure which exposes the grapes to a lot of sun, which is good for ripeness, and to the wind, which is good to keep the grapes 100% healthy until the day of the harvest. 

This Côtes-du-Rhône’s purple flashy colour suggests that the wine will be fresh and lively. On the palate, the wine is indeed lively and comes along with soft melted tannins that enhance the explosive aromas of flowers and red berries. Just after swallowing, pay attention to the remarkable length of that wine and take the time to appreciate the nice spicy aftertaste. If you enjoy refined wines, this bottle is for you ! 

 A beautiful purplish red and shiny dress..

Chicken liver salad
Grilled steak
Saint-Félicien cheese
Red wine poached pears

 Domaine de l’Olivier is made of 48 hectares of old vines planted on hillsides. The old vines especially enjoy these slopes and their southern exposure. Moreover, the soil is made of clay which gives more complexity to the wine. However, old vines exposed south could give wines that lack of freshness, which is not the case thanks to the strong wind that constantly blows on the grapes. 

You might have noticed that Château Ramage la Batisse is a “Cru Bourgeois”. What does it mean? Maybe you know that the wines made in Medoc (the prestigious part of Bordeaux’s left bank) were ranked in 1855. But since then, the ranking hasn’t changed even though a lot of new great wines emerged in Médoc. The “Cru Bourgois” ranking was created in 1932 to award these new talents from Médoc. 

 A beautiful garnet dress with a streaming drop..

Wild boar and foie gras terrine
Grilled flank steak with shallot and red wine sauce
Epoisses de Bourgogne
Cherry pie

 Located in the heart of Médoc, the vines are planted on a chalky underground whereas the ground itself is made of graves. So it is a poor soil that naturally limits the vines’ yield. Moreover, it challenges the vines which have to grow long roots in order to find their nutrients deep hence giving very high quality wines. 

In this month of April, I am proud to present you Origami by Chateau l’Evêché. This wine is a perfect example of the best you can find on the right bank of Bordeaux ! Its main characteristic is an amazing smoothness that will enchant your buds. Moreover, this wine is amazingly balanced and blackberries aromas pair perfectly with vanilla flavours brought by a delicate maturation in oak barrels. 

 A beautiful purple and bright dress..

Saucisson en croûte
Barbecued offal skewers
Fourme d’Ambert
Chocolate canelés

 Château l’Evêché, a rising star of Saint-Emilion, also owns 6 hectares just on the other side of the Dordogne River. Merlot and cabernet franc, the only variety used in Château Cheval Blanc, are cultivated with as much care as for the Grand Cru. The only difference is that this side of the river is sunnier and wines are therefore a little sweeter. Yummy! 

This month, I felt like presenting the Saint Joseph appellation to all whom do not know it yet. This wine is very typical of the appellation: it shows flavours of warm granite, a fat and silky texture with aromas of black berries, and a finish of black pepper typical of syrah. I tasted it on a delicious charcuterie board. 

 Deep garnet colour with raspberry reflections..

Charcuterie board
Roasted pigeon
Saint- Marcellin cheese
Black Forest cake

 Saint Joseph is one of the most beautiful appellations of the Rhône Valley. Indeed, the vines are planted on steep hillsides and circled by walls of ancient stones, next to the Rhône River. This way of planting the vines ensures a good exposure to the sun as well as a high level of water stress. 

It’s a very typical Cru Bourgeois that I chose this month. The robe is dark and deep. The nose is complex, with hints of spice, and is very promising. On the palate, I was impressed by its perfect balance and its amazing structure. The aromas of violet and red berries perfectly pair with the aromas of licorice, sign of delicate aging in oak barrels. A very refined Cru Bourgeois, quite classical in its structure but quite original in its aromas. 

 A beautiful garnet dress with purple hues..

Paté
Sirloin steak with shallot sauce
Saint-Nectaire
Fresh raspberries

 If cabernet-sauvignon and merlot are expected as there are some in almost all the wines in Bordeaux, the presence of malbec is a bit more surprising. Malbec used to be quite widespread in Bordeaux until the sixties. It’s used to give more structure to the wine thanks to its usually thin but abundant tannins. 

Burgundy’s red wines arefascinating : they all are elaborated with the same grape variety and yet they offer an astonishing diversity. This is due to the unique diversity of terroirs in the region. This Hautes Côtes de Beaune displays beautiful aromas of raspberry and rose delicately enhanced by a gentle acidity and very thin tannins. However, pinot noir is a fragile and demanding variety : do not hesitate to aerate it several hours before service so it fully displays its bouquet. 

 A beautiful ruby dress with fluid tears..

Chicken salad
Turkey breast
Soumaintrain cheese
Raspberry tart

 Long strip bordering Côte de Beaune’s villages on the west, Hautes Côtes de Beaune are a succession of hills and valleys. Thus, vines are all planted on slopes which allow them to benefit from a good exposure to sun and wind. It ensures a good level of ripeness, which is very important in such a northern region, and keeps the wine healthy, also very important for pinot noir, a noticeably fragile grape variety. 

In Vacqueyras, making strong wines is a tradition, with a lot of alcohol and a powerful taste. If le Rif indeed displayed these sought-after characteristics, we didn’t expect that much refinement and delicate flowery aromas. This perfectly matches with more typical flavours of ripe fruits and warm spices. Moreover, a great freshness balances the power : this wine is doubtlessly a very nice surprise ! 

 A shiny and purplish red dress..

Veal liver
Beef stew
Banon cheese
Blueberry pie

 Vacqueyras appellation is located on the delicate Montmirail hillsides. In a Mediterranean area, climate is chilly but not cold during winter, and very warm during summer. It’s also remarkably windy, and when the wind comes from the north, it brings refreshing air from the mountains that keeps vines healthy ! 

Graves is known as one of the best terroirs for white in Bordeaux. As soon as you dip your lips, you can feel all the minerality expected but also all the freshness brought by Sauvignon's citrus aromas. The texture is a bit silky : this wine is flattering on the palate. It will perfectly pair with shellfish ! 

 A beautiful golden dress with fluid tears..

Seafood platter
Salmon pie
Emmental
Apricot pie

 Château Gravas, is located just next to the prestigious village of Barsac, part of an exceptional terroir. Its cracked limestone soil allows a deep penetration of the roots, feeding the vine all the elements necessary for its good development. And a well-fed vineyard is a vine that gives good grapes ! 

This wine reminds of a fruit basket filled with fresh and crunchy fruits ! The nose displays various elegant flavours of pear, banana, apple and blackberry. On the palate, we may agree that the smooth start gives charm. This delicious “Graves” manages to combine the subtly flavoured treats of fruits and a gentle texture. The perfect dry white Bordeaux ! 

 A greenish yellow dress with thick tears..

Avocado and shrimps
Cold Pollock served with “aioli”
Fresh goat cheese
Fruit salad

 As its name tells, the soil of the “Graves” is made of gravels, pebbles (called graves in French) and stones. These “graves” reflect solar radiations and gradually redistribute the heat on the bunches contributing to a better grape ripeness. For white wines, it explains why Graves have such a smooth texture. 

This fabulous 2012’s vintage of Domaine Labranche Laffont shows that the reputation of rustic wines that once characterized Madiran is now far away. In the mouth, the wine is highly concentrated with well-marked tannins gentled during the four years since the bottling. Those carry a very subtle aroma of fig and smoked and peppered notes. I find its length on the palate remarkable. 

 A purplish dress with fluid tears..

Doe terrine
Lacquered duck and Thai rice
Blue cheese
Cake with candied fruits

 Located just next to the Pyrenees, the Labranche Laffont estate hides a rare gem! The estate managed to preserve tannat vines dating from the terrible invasion of the phylloxera, an insect which destroyed the major part of French vines at the end of the 19th century.