Willowcroft Assemblage Select 2015

Willowcroft Cabernet Franc is made from 75% Cabernet Franc, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Chambourcin and 4% Petit Verdot. This is a blend of clones from Bordeaux and the Loire Valley. 
This is planted on silty loam soils. 
Harvested from home Vineyards on Sept 23rd 2015 (brix 23.9). 
Malo-Lactic fermentation.
Fermented and aged for 12 months in a mix of French, Hungarian and American Oak barrels.
It was slightly filtered before bottling.

Willowcroft started planting albarino in 2010 after Lew visited Galicia trying to find a replacement for Chardonnay that had been lost to flavescence doree.
The wine is dry with earthy citrus & mineral notes and a touch of peach on the finish.

100% Albarino grapes.

Harvested from home Vineyards (brix 24.4 and TA 6.9). 

No Malo-Lactic fermentation in order to preserve a good acidity and some freshness.

Fermented and aged for 7 months in Stainless steel tanks.

Bottled in April 2017 after a slight filtration.

This Petit Verdot was originally planted to be a blending component, but the end result was so delicious, it has been bottled as a "single varietal".

Deep color, intense flavor.

Willowcroft Petit Verdot 82% Petit Verdot and 18% Merlot.
Planted on silty Loam soils.
Malo-Lactic fermentation.
Fermented and aged for 12 months in French, Hungarian and American Oak barrels.
It was slightly filtered before bottling.

Good presentation of the floral notes of the Muscat ottonel with the Riesling. These 2 grape varietals are complementing each others bringing some acidity and some rich fruit and floral flavors. 

A very small residual sugar of 0.7% is kept for balance.

Willowcroft Riesling Muscat-Ottonel is made from 66% Riesling and 34% Muscat-Ottonel grapes grown on silty loam soils.
Average age of the vines is 30 years old.
No Malo-Lactic fermentation in order to preserve a good acidity and some freshness.
Fermented and aged for 7 months in Stainless steel tanks.
It was slightly filtered before bottling.

"La Brulade" is the name of a select slope located at an altitude of 400 meters overlooking the Mediterranean sea between La Baie d'Amour (the town of La Ciotat) in the South and La Sainte Baume in the North. This is one of the highest parcels in the Bandol appellation.
The wine is only produced in exceptional vintages. This carefully selected blend is made of 95% Mourvedre and 5% Grenache, aged in large French oak barrels for 24 months.
The wine shows a deep purple color. It is fresh and fruity on the nose with intense garrigue aromas. Structured, elegant and well-balanced on the palate with strong tannins. Licorice, ripe black fruits, garrigue flavors and some peppery freshness on the finish.

The 35-year old grapes are grown on clay and limestone soils and are farmed organically. Yield is very low - 15hl/ha. The grapes are harvested manually.
Winemaking: Double selection, destemming, crushing before skin contact fermentation. No filtration. Aging for 24 months in French oak casks (600L).

Grilled meat (lamb, beef, boar), Mediterranean cuisine, spicy dishes.

Review:

This single-vineyard wine comes from a parcel that sits at 1,300 feet facing the Mediterranean sea. Its dark color, fabulous ripe fruits and perfumed character give it both richness and longevity. With 95% Mourvèdre, it has all the structure, dark tannins and spice of this grape that is at its best in this appellation. Drink this wine from 2023.

-Wine Enthusiast 95 Points Cellar Selection

The flagship 2015 Bandol Brulade is a powerful, serious Bandol that knocks it out of the park with its monster nose of dark fruits, cured meats, sandalwood, olive tapenade, and leathery characteristics. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and pure, with plenty of sexy fruit, it’s a terrific, serious Bandol that needs another 2-3 years of bottle age and will keep for 15-20."
- Jeb Dunnuck (March 27th 2019), 94 pts

Decanter 95 Points

55% Merlot, 30% Cabernet sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec.

The color is deep dark ruby. limpid and brilliant. The nose is intense and complex with hints of blackberries, sweet spicies, noble plain chocolate and Vanilla. The palate is full bodied, very long with well integrated tannins. The finish is very fresh and luscious with toasted notes in the background.

Average age of the vines is 30 years.
Manual harvest from September 21th to October 7th 2015.
Upon arrival at the winery, only the best grapes were selected using a sorting table.
Skin contact maceration during 2 weeks in temperature controlled vats.
Aged 12 months in Oak barrels. (1/3 new oak, 1/3 1 year old and 1/3 two year old barrels). They use 60% French Oak and 40% American Oak.

Served with red meat (beef filet, sirloin),  pork tenderloin, roasted duck breast with honey&orange sauce, roasted lamb with thyme, poultry and fine cheese.

Review:

"Based on 55% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Malbec, the 2015 Chateau Brule Secaille Grande Reserve Cotes de Bourg spent a year in 40% American oak, with one-third being new. Black fruits, spicy oak, underbrush, and cedar notes all emerge from this medium-bodied, nicely textured, balanced 2015 that has solid mid-palate depth and ample fruit. It’s a fleshy, charming effort that has loads of character."
- Jeb Dunnuck (March 27th 2019), 90 pts