Manoir du Carra Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau 2015

Manoir du Carra Beaujolais Cru Brouilly is 100% Gamay.

Deep red ruby colored wine with red fruit aromas of strawberry, raspberry and floral notes of violet. Ample in the mouth, supple tannins.

Parcels in the lieu-dit "Combiaty", within the village of St Etienne la Varenne. The soils are dry, made of pink granite which gives the wine its tipicity.

The average age of the vines is 50 years.
Yield is 45-50hl/ha
Manual harvest; Aging on the lees in foudre for 3-4 months; Slight filtration.

Manoir du Carra Beaujolais Cru Fleurie Clos des Deduits  is made from 100% Gamay grapes coming from the lieu dit "Montee de la Tonne".
The vineyard measures 1.5 hectare and the average age of the vines is 50 years. Yield: 48 hl/ha
Manual harvest; Semi-carbonic maceration for 10-12 days; Aging in Foudre for 3-4 months; Slight filtration.
Intense red color, subtle fruity and floral aromas of violet, berry and cinnamon. Ample in the mouth, fruit flavors. Even better after a few years of cellaring.
Excellent with red and game meats, and cheeses.

Review:

"Bright ruby. Ripe and energetic on the nose, showing excellent clarity and lift to the ripe raspberry, cherry and floral pastille scents. Palate-staining red and blue fruit and lavender flavors are sharpened by suggestions of smoky minerals and white pepper. Smoothly plays richness off vivacity and finishes long and vibrant, leaving a sweet black raspberry note behind. - Josh Raynolds"
- Vinous (Jaunary 2017), 91 pts

Xavier Vignon, along with Philippe Cambie, are probably the two most highly renowned oenologists in Chateauneuf du Pape as well as some of the surrounding Cotes du Rhone regions. Vignon’s office and laboratory are next to the Auto Route A7, in the same complex as Chateau Husson. He is the consultant for such well-known domaines as Raymond Usseglio, Jerome Quiot, Beaurenard, La Nerthe, Mont Redon, Marcoux, Grand Veneur and La Gardine. I tasted through the new and upcoming Xavier Vignon releases. The blend of Xavier Vignon’s Chateauneuf du Pape can vary considerably. Vignon told me that it is a selection from nearly 120 different parcels in the appellation. Fashioned from the best fruit from old vines planted in the finest parcels is the Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Anonyme. Xavier Vignon is not going to release the 2007 Anonyme (his greatest Chateauneuf du Pape to date) until 2013 so readers have a chance of getting some of this production. I tasted three vintages of this cuvee with Vignon.

Review:The 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape started out slightly reticent, yet blossomed with time in the glass. Cassis, leafy herbs, lead pencil/graphite and earthy notes all flow to a ripe, full-bodied, beautifully balanced 2015 that has sweet tannin. Made from 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre and 15% Syrah, aged in very old barrels, it’s a terrific base cuvée in 2015 that’s going to drink nicely for a decade. -Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points

Pago de Carraovejas Crianza Ribera Del Duero 2016 is made from 90% Tempranillo, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Merlot

The Pago de Carraovejas Ribera del Duero 2015 vintage marks a turning point in the history of the winery. From now on, the Crianza and Reserva are unified in this wine that focuses on the terroir and character rather than the time of aging. Its renewed label reflects the three key elements of this red: origin, soul and emotion. 

Pago de Carraovejas Crianza Ribera Del Duero is made with grapes grown in the Botijas River valley, and planted between 1988 and 2011. Our work over the last 30 years has been geared to handcrafted viniculture, that puts as much care as possible into the microclimate conditions and the details. We have placed particular attention on the maintenance of the soil by plant cover that already grows spontaneously. It allows us to develop the ecosystem of the valley, which we respect scrupulously, using organic fertilizer and sulfur as the sole basis of our viticulture.

Depending on which plot they come from and the time they enter the winery, the grapes may be deposited in cold chambers to prevent oxidation and preserve the aroma. We carry out a two-part selection: first on the vine, where we choose the bunches, and then on a belt in the winery, where we remove the grapes that do meet the necessary conditions. The grapes enter the winery and are transported with the assistance of gravity. The deposits are filled slowly and gently. Depending on the characteristics that we detected when tasting the grapes, we ferment them either in stainless steel deposits or French oak barrels. For years we have worked with our own yeast that has been isolated from the vines by our team. This work is also partly responsible for the Carraovejas character.
The wine was aged in barrels for around twelve months.

Review:

Intense graphite, orange peel, chocolate and blood orange with intense red-cherry essence. The palate has a very long, succulent feel with great flesh and freshness. Deep, powerful and focused. Drink or hold. -James Suckling 93 Points

Font du Jeu Cotes de Bordeaux  is made of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc,10% Cabernet Sauvignon

The nose is filled with blackberry and blackcurrant fruits, licorice and vanillin. Medium-bodied with a solid texture of dark fruit, roasted coffee, and spice flavors. Long finish.

Traditional vinification in small tanks. Four week maceration. Aging in 2-3 year old oak barrels for 16 months. No fining, no filtration.

great with "Entrecote a la Bordelaise" which is Beef Steak marinated in red wine with Shallots.

Review:

The 2015 Font du Jeu Cotes de Castillon offers ample dark fruits, plums, and leafy herbs notes to go with a frontend-loaded, textured profile that’s ready to go. A blend of 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in used barrels, it’s a terrific value and will offer plenty of pleasure over the coming 5-7 years. - Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points

Deep and brilliant, purple-red colour. An exciting nose with aromas of black fruit (blackcurrant, cherry) spices and vanilla. This great aromatic complexity is found on the palate : the spices and ripe fruit appear with an elegant woodiness and harmonious tannins. The finish has good aromatic length and introduces a touch of liquorice and pepper.

A terrific Châteauneuf du Pape with great concentration and finesse.

Best between 2 and 20 years. Best to decant if young (less than 5 years old).

Soil type Extreme north of Châteauneuf du Pape. This plateau is made with a high quantity of red clay mixed with rocks. This area is considerated to be one of the best to produce rich and powerful red wines. By definition, LES ORIGINES will always deliver a great complexity and ageing potential. Winemaking & ageing Harvest is sorted by hand, destemmed and crushed. Fermentation temperature is controlled at 30°C. Vatting period of 18 to 20 days. Matured in vats (grenache) and in oak casks (syrah and mourvèdre).

 Review:

"Half of the fabulous 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee les Origines was aged in new barriques, the rest in concrete vats, so there is some oak in play here, but the blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 20% Syrah has absorbed much of it. This full-bodied wine is tannic and rich, with fruit shading from cherries and red plums all the way through to plum and cola. Mocha and baking spices appear on the long, velvety finish. Joe Czerwinski"

- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue 233, October 2017), 95 pts