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Lafite Around the World
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Lafite Around the World
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Tuesday April 21, 2009 |
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Speaker: Tracee Galtieri, Pasternak ltd
Five Generations of the Rothschild family serving Bordeaux fine wines
Owner of Château Lafite Rothschild for five generations, the Rothschild family has been based in this Bordeaux vineyard since 1868.
Domaines Barons de Rothschild (DBR) has purchased vineyards around the world and used their skills to create exceptional wines. Over the years, DBR has expanded its offerings through the acquisition of Château Duhart-Milon, 4th growth wine from Pauillac, of Château Rieussec, 1er growth Sauternes wines, of Château l’Evangile in Pomerol, of Château Paradis Casseuil in Entre-Deux-Mers and of Château Peyre-Lebade, Bordeaux wines in Haut Médoc. DBR has also applied in 1999 its Savoir-Faire to Corbieres with Château d'Aussières. We tasted 12 exceptional wines. Lafite Reserve Bordeaux Blanc 2007 was liked by all. Los Vascos Reserve 2006 was the favorite of Fight I. Caro 2006 was the favorite of Flight II. Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1990 was elegant and loved by all.
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| Aperitif |
Votes |
Full Retail Price $ |
Lafite Reserve Bordeaux Blanc 2007
Réserve Spéciale Bordeaux Blanc grapes are selected exclusively from the Entre-Deux-Mers region.
Crystal-clear straw-yellow colour. Powerful and aromatic on the nose, with the dominant exotic citrus aromas of Sauvignon Blanc. Full-bodied, developing a lively fresh taste with intense aromas of grapefruit and lime on the finish. Both lively and full of flavor. Liked by all.
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Liked by all |
$16.00 |
| Flight I |
Votes |
Full Retail Price $ |
Lafite Reserve Bordeaux Rouge 2007
Réserve Bordeaux Red is produced from selections of cuvees from the finest Bordeaux soils. They unite the finest successes of the year from all of the Bordeaux vineyards to create one of the finest blends, produced in the tradition of fine Bordeaux wines which are balanced rather than woody. Most of the selected wines come from Côtes de Bordeaux.
Grape varietals: Essentially Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot as well as Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot.
Intense and aromatic nose, with powerful aromas of very ripe fruits (raspberry, blackcurrant) blended with notes of liquorice. On the palate, the wine is both full-bodied and powerful, with silky tannins.
It is a very elegant wine with youthful aromas and liquorice on the finish. Enjoy now.
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5 |
$16.00 |
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Blason d’Aussieres 2005
The Blason d'Aussières is a selection from the Chateau d’Aussieres characterized by full maturity, fresh aromas and a supple and fleshy structure which reflect the terroir of the estate. 20% is aged in oak barrels for 12 months.
Grapes: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Carignan.
Color: deep dark red.
Nose: mix of spice and aromatic plants from the garrigue (Mediterranean mountain flowers and herbs of the region). Fresh red fruit, with hints of smokiness and oak are also present.
Palate: elegant with delicate tannins. The wine is balanced and ready to drink.
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4 |
$20.00 |
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Los Vascos Reserve 2006
The color is intense ruby with orange nuances. The nose explodes with fruit: black cherry and blackcurrant (Cabernet), strawberry (Malbec), raspberry (Syrah), plum light mint and black pepper (Carmenère). The oak doesn’t overpower the fruit. It contributes delicious aromas of tobacco, cinnamon, and crème brûlée (vanilla, caramel and chocolate). The taste is very intense, well structured and finishes with a fruit intensity of raspberries and cherries accompanied by a touch of liquorice and walnut. It is very dynamic and still very young. This juicy and luscious wine is delicious to taste now but the tannins still need to mature for a while before it becomes ideal for drinking. It is currently superb. A wine deliciously Chilean! The favorite of this Flight. |
15 |
$20.00 |
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Amancaya
Amancaya, presented a harmonious balance between the Argentinean and Bordeaux styles. A more fruity style coming from the higher percentage of Malbec. The word AMANCAYA is the native Indian name of a flower of the Andes that you can find in the Mendoza area.
Cabernet Sauvignon, 40 to 60%; Malbec, 40 to 60%.
Ageing : 11 months in French oak (20% new)
Average annual production : 5,000 cases
Deep purple-red colour. Fruit driven wine, with appealing red and black cherries flavors, black plums, hint of mint and cedar. On the palate it has a nice tannic round texture. Notes of vanilla and chocolate.
Nice to drink now or to be laid down.
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12 |
$20.00 |
| Flight II |
Votes |
Full Retail Price $ |
Moulin de Duhart 2005
Château Duhart-Milon’s second wine is selected from vats of the "Grand Vin". In general, the grapes are from the youngest part of the vineyard. Moulin de Duhart has several characteristics similar to the fine wine, but with a lesser potential for ageing as its ageing in barrels is much shorter. It must be consumed younger than its more robust counterpart.
The origin of the name comes from the former presence of a windmill on the Carruades, next to the Duhart-Milon vineyard.
Grape Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon 55 to 60% and Merlot 40 to 45%.
Length of ageing in oak barrels: 10 months in two year old barrels.
Deep ruby color, with slight oakiness on the nose and notes of preserved fruit. Somewhat closed on the palate and pleasantly fruity.
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10 |
$40.00 |
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Chateau d”Aussieres 2006
Château d'Aussières is the « cuvée of excellence » resulting from very strict selection from the best parcels of the vineyard and produced in limited quantity. 40% is aged in oak barrels for 12 to 16 months, half of which are new. The barrels are supplied by the Domaines’ Cooperage in Pauillac. The Chateau d'Aussières is a very dense wine with exceptional finesse which fully express the richness of the late-ripening and cool terroir, perfect for producing elegant wines.
Grape varieties: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Beautiful inky red colour, almost opaque. Although closed due to its youth, the nose has great depth with elegant, well-integrated oak. Very big on the palate, with great richness. Dense, firm but elegant tannins. The fruit is pure and has bite. The finish is very long. The wine will certainly gain in finesse during the first months after bottling, while still keeping its wonderful aromatic freshness.
Optimum drinking period: 2008-2012.
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3 |
$35.00 |
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Le Dix de Los Vascos-2006
Le Dix de Los Vascos originates from 50-year-old vines located in the parcel known as “Los Frailes”, and is aged in new French oak barrels. It is only produced in very limited quantities, depending on the concentration and the finesse of the vintage (there was no “Le Dix” in 1998).
Grape varietals: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Carmenere, 5% Syrah.
Length of ageing in oak barrels: 12 to 14 months in 100% new barrels.
Average annual production: 2000 to 3000 cases per year.
Le Dix 2006 has a deep garnet color, almost black. The powerful nose develops aromas of very ripe black fruit and wild cherries complemented by aromas of wax, cedar, laurel, and licorice. The oak is pleasantly integrated with the fruit. This adds to the wine enjoyable aromas of toasted coffee, vanilla, tobacco and cinnamon. The Syrah adds nuances of violets and raspberries.
In the mouth, it is round, dense, fresh and fruity. The wine is very concentrated, very balanced and elegant, fresh and long with rich but ripe and soft tannins. It finishes with a strong taste of cherry (kirsch) and a light bitterness of walnut peel typical of great Cabernets. The Carmenère adds an enjoyable touch of pepper. This superb wine is already very expressive. It is still young but will rapidly gain in complexity and softness. To drink from 2009 and later. Very good ageing potential. A very fine vintage!
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11 |
$50.00 |
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Caro 2006
CARO has a strong Argentinean identity, heralded by Malbec, while obtaining further elegance and complexity through blending with Cabernet Sauvignon. The combination has made a rich and refined wine; a harmonious balance between the Argentinean and Bordeaux styles.
Grape varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon 65 to 75% and Malbec 25 to 35%.
Length of ageing in oak barrels: 14 months, including 60% in new barrels.
Average annual production: 4000 cases per year.
Deep purple-red color. Intense aromas of red and black fruit (cherries and blackcurrants) on the nose, with notes of cedar, vanilla and tobacco, slightly minty and well integrated. Full on the palate with powerful tannic structure, and good, delicate length. A wine with great ageing potential. The favorite of this flight.
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12 |
$50.00 |
| Flight III: Lafite Rothschild |
Votes |
Full Retail Price $ |
Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1990
Cabernet Sauvignon 80 to 95%, Merlot 5 to 20%, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot 0 to 3%.
Length of ageing in oak barrels : 18 to 20 months, including 100% new barrels
Average annual production : 15,000 to 25,000 cases per year
Medium ruby color with a pale rim. Spice, forward fruit, with juicy berry, tobacco and cedar character in nose.
Lovely on the palate, mellow and harmonious with elegant cassis fruit, clean acidity and then toffee/caramel notes on the long finish. Elegant. Magnificent..
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All loved |
$350.00 |
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