| Country: | France |
| Region: | Bordeaux |
| Winery: | Duc d'Arnauton |
| Grape Types: | Semillion Sauvignon Blanc |
| Organic: | Yes |
| Vintage: | 2014 |
| Bottle Size: | 750 ml |
Dominus Napa Valley Christian Moueix Red Blend is made from 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot.
Dominus Estate is the Napa Valley property of Bordeaux producer Christian Moueix. The wine is bottled from the historic Napanook Vineyard. Located at the foothills of the Mayacamas, the vineyard was planted in 1838 and continues to evolve under the stewardship of Christian Moueix. The estate's Bordeaux varietals benefit from the Yountville microclimate where temperatures are moderated by cool breezes from the San Pablo Bay. The resulting wine is a uniquely refined expression of this special terroir. The 2023 vintage is seductive and deep with notes of cedar, oriental spices, wild berry, and cocoa, followed by a finely etched finish.
Reviews:
Black currant, pencil shaving, subtle sandalwood, wet earth, forest floor and violet aromas follow through to a medium- to full-bodied palate with ultra-fine tannins that integrate perfectly at the end. A polished and caressing texture that goes on for minutes. The balance and drinkability of this Dominus is terrific, and it will age beautifully. A blend of 87% cabernet sauvignon, 9% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. From organically grown grapes. Very drinkable now, but will age beautifully.
James Suckling 99 Points
Duckhorn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc .
True to their heritage of producing top-tier Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine showcases a seamless blend of elegance and strength. It begins with captivating aromas of dark red berries and cardamom, leading the way to a defined palate that showcases flavors of fig jam and boysenberry pie. Firm, dusty tannins provide a sturdy foundation, guiding you to a long, focused finish that denotes a harmonious blend of mountain and valley floor fruit.
The wine has a white gold color with a fine sparkle. The nose displays minerality and hints of citrus. On the palate the wine is balanced and sustained with a finish that is fresh with notes of lemon.
The Blanc de Blancs is a true wine for gastronomy pairing well with the finest fish: sea bass with salt crust, scallops, grilled marinated squid with lemon, thyme, olive oil as well white meats such as veal tartare with ginger and lemon.
Review:
James Suckling Lots of white flowers with fresh and dried apples plus hints of bread dough. Asian pears. Medium- to full-bodied with density, velvety texture and a very dry finish. Flavorful and slightly bitter with richness, structure and class. 2016 base wine with reserve wine from 2014. Drink or hold.
-James Suckling 95 Points
Thibaut-Janisson Blanc de Chardonnay is made from 100% Chardonnay
Appellation 100% Virginia
Winemaking Notes The grapes are handpicked in small baskets late August and are gently pressed as whole clusters. After a settling of 24 hours, the juice is inoculated with selected Champagne yeast and ferments in stainless steel tanks at low temperature. Once the fermentation is over, the wine ages on the fine lees until the spring of the following year. The blend is then put together and cold-stabilized prior to bottling. The bottling occurs in the spring when the cellar temperature is conducive to a second fermentation in the bottle. The now sparkling wine will age on the yeast for over 24 months. At disgorging, a small amount of dosage liquor is added in order to balance the natural acidity.
Clean, crisp and refreshing! With scents of white flowers, apples and pears. This sparkling wine is elegant and complex with vibrant aromas, and fine active streamers. The depth of complexity is elegant and the intricate nuances of the terroir fill the nose and stimulate the palate. It’s full of youthful, bright and alert acidity.
DAOU Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Petit Verdot.
A heady nose delivers fruit-forward aromas of blackberry, raspberry and plum with traces of licorice, thyme, vanilla and cherry. The palate is beautifully balanced, showing layers of black fruit and chocolate-covered blueberry with underlying herbal, cedar and mineral complexity. Exquisitely rounded tannins imbue the finish with stature and length.
Review:
Black plum and roasted walnut aromas meet with woodspice on the nose of this bottling. The palate is tense and firm yet still brighter with blackberry, pepper and nut flavors that cling to the persistent structure. — Matt Kettmann
-Wine Enthusiast 93 Points
Color : pale gold
Aromas : subtle with notes of white fruit and flowers
Mouth : balanced, fresh and mineral
TA: 3.0 g/L
RS: 1.5 g/L
Duc d' Arnauton Graves Blanc 2014 is made from 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 50% Sémillon.
Vinification: Skin contact maceration for Semillon; juice selection made from 1st and 2nd pressings, then settling at low temperature. Temperature controlled fermentation (20°C maximum) in stainless steel vats.
Aging on the lees in stainless steel vats for 3 months.
Harmonious nose, citrus fruits and soft spices; supple and rich in the mouth, fleshy and well-balanced.
The Chateau Duc d'Arnauton Estate
Patrick Bernard has a 30 year experience in winemaking, working for/with his family. In 2001 he and his wife Sabine and two daughters created their own business in Landiras in the Bordeaux Region.
The property dates back to the 19th century (it formerly welcomed pilgrims on the route to Santiago de Compostela). The wines are produced using traditional methods, matured in oak barrels for the most part and bottled at the property.
The Chateau Duc d'Arnauton Vineyard
The estate spreads over 13 hectares (32 acres) and three villages:
• Landiras,
• Fargues de Langon
• Pujols sur Ciron.
The vineyard is planted with:
• 8 hectares (19.8 acres) of red grapes (Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon),
• 5 hectares (12.3 acres) of white grapes (Semillon, Sauvignon and Muscadelle), of which just over 1 ha is dedicated to the production of Sauternes.
The vineyard is farmed under the culture raisonnee method.
The soil is a mixture of gravel, limestone and sand. The method of pruning used here is double cordon, which makes it easier to control the yields. The 15-year-old vines are harvested by hand. The wine matures in stainless steel tanks and the Graves rouge is aged in oak barrels for 8 months.
Post & Beam by Far Niente Chardonnay is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
Vibrant, refreshing and stunningly perfumed, the Post & Beam Chardonnay opens with aromas of fresh melon and wild honeysuckle. The palate is lush and round, with silky layers of melon and baked apple spice framed by soft, toasted oak and lifted acidity.
Review:
Aromas of rich golden apple and vanilla bean lead to toasty oak, lemon zest, and salty minerality. Vibrant acidity is a focal point on the palate, along with a refreshingly bright and clean finish.
-Tasting Panel 93 Points
Delas Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes is made from Syrah.
Sourced from Delas' holdings on the Hermitage hill, this 2021 has a deep, brilliant red hue. The nose is powerful and complex, expressing blackberries, spices and leather. On the palate the wine is firm but silky, with the tightly-knit tannic structure that is the hallmark of wines with a long future.
Pair this wine with rare or medium-cooked game, marinated meats and spicy stews. We recommend opening this bottle between one and three hours before drinking.
Reviews:
Some weight of fruit here underneath the measured clove oak. Smooth, ripe, with well-balanced acidity, this has a good sense of balance and elegance. Fresh, with plentiful cinnamon spice and forest berry fruit that's just-ripe, neither over nor under. A fairly compact, early-drinking Hermitage, not a powerful one, but one that has some natural class.
-Decanter 93 Points
Very complex nose with notes of candied orange, cocoa powder and spice. Remarkably harmonious for the vintage with almost silky tannins, then comes an intense flinty character that gives the slightly sweet finish so much excitement. Matured entirely in oak barrels with about one quarter new, but only for 12 months.
-James Suckling 93 Points