On April 4th, the Bordeaux team of oenologists «Derenoncourt Consultants» and thirty winemakers from France, Europe and the World, received professional tasters in a tasty Parisian palace, where the atmosphere was friendly.
All the wines on display exuded passion and complicity: from the fine Pinot Noir at the Hofkellerei Fürsten estate in Liechtenstein, to the mirifique Porto Tawny at the Quinta da Côrte in Portugal, through the tasty blend wines of the Château de Saurs in Gaillac in France.

Wherever the team of oenologists consult, their silky label marks the identity of each terroir with luxury.

I was particularly seduced by some cuvées like those of the Domaine Belmont for Dolmen and Montaigne, in IGP Côtes du Lot, where Chardonnay expresses itself with minerality and freshness in the image of a Burgundy, which is due to the exceptional terroir located in the Causse.
The elegant finesse of the Gamay du Château des Bachelards where Alexandra de Vazeilles, painter of her own labels, offers her biodynamic cuvées chiselled such as Fleurie les Clos 2019.
Then in Greece, on a protected island of the Cyclades «Tinos», the wines of Domaine T-Oinos Clos Stegasta delighted me with its 2 vintages. The white «Asyrtiko» and the red «Mavrotragano», these indigenous grape varieties excellent vibrations propelled by the terroir. The expert hands of the winemaker have done a titanic work well directed.
The radiant new cuvée «I Palchi Foscarino Grande Cuvée» Soave Classico, 100% Garganega (white) from Inama Azienda Agricola in Italy was a delight of superbly adjusted mineral flavors.
The Domaine des Rouillats in Montravel in the Périgord, has been rehabilitating the Arbouriou grape variety for several vintages for the «Source» and «Origin» vintages in PGI, and unveils its new born «Elévation» 2019 with a successful swing in merlot cabernet sauvignon, to long ageing in barrels.

The Burgundian estate Les Héritiers Saint-Genys at the luxurious Mercurey Clos Marcilly Monopole, has some generous, fresh, aromatic Morgon wines that I had the pleasure of tasting, perfect for quality restoration.

The fabulous Château de Brézé, whose oenotouristic site is essential in the Saumur appellation, whose Chenins refined to the fresh tension in the mouth and highly recommendable were served to me by the Comtesse de Colbert in person.

The Château de Minière in Bourgueil, on that day, produced a triptych of Cabernet Franc wines, and I was able to delight in the gourmet «Mining Bubbles», «Centenary Vines» and «Mining Red».

Château Monestier La Tour in Bergerac, convinced me with its 3 delicious white and red organic vintages from the 2019 vintage.

In Cahors, the Château Cantelauze made me taste its delicate 2015 vintage malbec merlot spicy and fresh, its parcel elixir «Trejet» 2017 organic 100% malbec, then nature well mastered organic Nihil in 2020.

The Château Gigognan in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, has proposed 3 crus in white and red with surprising freshness, combining floral intensity, fruity with spicy complexity.

Villa Beaulieu en Coteaux d’Aix en Provence, Domaine de la Soumade en Rasteau, Château Labastide Orliac en Côteaux du Brulhois du Sud-Ouest, Château de Suronde en Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru and Anjou Blanc, Dimnik Estate in Croatia, the Kavaklidere with Pendore & Côtes d’Avanos in Turkey, the Domaine de Baccari in Morocco, the Château Marsays in Lebanon and the incredible Bargylus in Syria confirm by their presence, the talented success of the association of tasteful winemakers with experts in oenology.

Then the Italians Tenuta Argentiera, Casenuove, Mansalto and La Massa with Giorgio Primo formed a sharp squadron of choice, during this high-flying rendezvous.

To enhance the reading, Wine4Melomanes offers a musical chord in 2 steps:

Barney McAll – Precious Energy – 2022

Ziad Rahbani – Khalas – 1985 / 2022 reissue

Frederic Beneix – Wine4Melomanes

S.I N°175 (partially published for May 2022)