bordeaux
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Posted: October 19, 2021Categories: Bordeaux
Read more »What's common between oysters and uni?
Both can be eaten raw - some say both are best eaten raw. Both are acquired taste, not easy to swallow for the uninitiated. Starting today, one can also say both can be paired with Rieussec, the Sauternes relaunched.
Sauternes, the honey-colored sweet wine from Bordeaux, once was known as the swig of kings. When Domaines Baron de Rothschild (DBR), the owner of Château Lafite Rothschild,set out to acquire a property in Sauternes, Château Rieussec (1er Grand Cru Sauternes) was its top choice. Traditionally served with dessert after the main course, Sauternes has become the victim of its own success. The sweetness, often associated with sugar (translation: excess calories), has become a smaller part of the modern diet.
However, we have watched innovative chefs the world over experimenting with Sauternes for years. These chefs, often world travelers, created the concept of fusion cuisine, by blending contrasting culinary traditions into
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Posted: September 01, 2021Categories: Bordeaux
Read more »Our selections for September 2021 are:
R de Rieussec 2016, Sauternes Rated 88-90 (Lisa Perotti-Brown) - R de Rieussec is a dry white from the portfolio of Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) you may have never heard of! This stunning, crystalline expression of dry white wine from one of the world’s leading Sauternes producers, Château Rieussec, is an exceedingly rare find. Though the world may be more familiar with the golden, honeyed Sauternes this Premier Cru Classé produces, R de Rieussec is a treasure in its own right. For those who appreciate beautifully made dry white Bordeaux, R de Rieussec is a hidden gem of a wine, with very few bottles imported into the United States.
Clos du Clocher 2016, Pomerol, Rated: 94 (Lisa Perotti-Brown) - Clos du Clocher is one of the best kept secrets in Pomerol. A true insider’s wine, this small property is home to some extraordinary terroir with some of the best neighbors in the entire appellation! The cult producer Le Pin is
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Posted: August 02, 2021Categories: Bordeaux
Read more »Our selections for August 2021 are:
- Château de Fieuzal Blanc 2014, Pessac-Léognan, rated 91-93 (Neal Martin) - Those who love thirst-quenching, fresh, zesty wines should look no further than the offerings of Château de Fieuzal Blanc. This bright wine with beautifully balanced acidity is the perfect Summer wine and Laguna Cellar’s answer to beating the heat. Château de Fieuzal is one of the lucky Graves Crus Classés within the prestigious Pessac-Léognan carveout in the area formerly known as the Graves region of the Left Bank. This sprawling 70-hectare vineyard has a mere 10 hectares devoted to production of white wines and is planted with a mixture of crisp Sauvignon Blanc and the richly honeyed varietal, Semillon. The team is consulted by the legendary Hubert de Boüard of the Saint-Émilion Grand Crus Classés Class A Estate, Château Angélus. The vines are approximately 35 years old on average, picked diligently by hand in the finely graveled vineyards, and vinified with
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Posted: July 02, 2021Categories: Bordeaux
Read more »Our selections for July 2021 are:
Château Smith Haut Lafitte Les Hauts de Smith Rosé 2020, Bordeaux, not rated - Summer is here, and we would like to shake things up a bit by introducing our subscribers to one of our favorite rosés: Les Hauts de Smith Rosé from the renowned Château Smith Haut Lafitte. Château Smith Haut Lafitte has experienced an incredible rise in quality and critical acclaim over the past few vintages. A huge push has been made toward organic viticulture in the vineyard, and this is reflected in the amazing accolades over their latest vintages of grand vin. Though many think Bordeaux is a region that only produces red wine, Pessac-Léognan is also known for its top-quality whites, and now rosé. Production of rosé has been increasing throughout the region and more and more estates are crafting Cabernet or Merlot-based expressions of this delicious, pink beverage. Bordeaux rosé – though dry – is a bit fruitier and heartier than its Provençal cousins, and
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Posted: June 21, 2021Read more »
If you are in Paris, after visiting Arc de Triomphe, a 20-minute stroll down Champs-Élysées will take you to La Réserve Paris, a lovely hotel where you can enjoy either a light or a fancy lunch at the Michelin-starred La Gabriel restaurant. If you are in the mood for wine, their menu offers a fabulous selection of different vintages from Château Cos d'Estournel.
That is no coincidence. La Réserve Paris and Château Cos d'Estournel share the same devoted owner, Michel Reybier, who created an intensely intimate and luxurious experience that took luxury spa and hotel to a new level before acquiring the storied estate in Bordeaux.
Michel Reybier and Louis Gaspard d’Estournel, the founding owner of Cos, are two very different men who share one common thread – a passion that borders on obsession for their beloved wine estate that is fondly referred to simply as Cos by Bordeaux lovers.
Louis Gaspard d’Estournel famously watched his next neighbor, Château Lafite, turning out fabulous wine
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Posted: June 02, 2021Categories: Bordeaux
Read more »Our selections for June 2021 are:
Anwilka 2007 - A mere 7 kilometers from the ocean in the prestigious region of Stellenbosch, this fabulous red blend is one of the most stunning expressions of South African red wine to date. This star of a property was purchased in the late 1990s and an extensive replanting of the vineyards subsequently followed. It was a team effort among three friends: Lowell Jooste – the former 4th generation owner of Klein Constantia before he relocated to southern California, Hubert de Boüard of Château Angélus in Saint-Émilion, and Bruno Prats, the former owner of Château Cos d’Estournel. The original vintage of Shiraz-Cabernet blend was released in 2005. The blend beguiled the palates of critics like Robert Parker, who described it as, “the finest red wine I have ever had from South Africa.” Shortly after the glowing reviews of the press were released, the wine skyrocketed in terms of demand. Anwilka continues to be one of the premier expressions
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Posted: April 02, 2021Categories: BordeauxRead more »
Our selections for April 2021 are:
Château Berliquet 2010 Saint-Émilion, Rated 90-93 (Robert Parker Jr) - This is one of the oldest properties in the Right Bank appellation of Saint-Émilion. This 10-hectare vineyard is planted with an even split of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The philosophy of vignerons here is about capturing the tension of the limestone and the strength of clay terroir in every vintage. Starting in 2007, the legendary Nicolas Thienpont of the famed Saint Émilion Premiere Grand Crus Classé Class ‘B’ estate, Château Pavie Macquin, and well-known consultant Stephan Derenoncourt began advising this property. Quality since then has skyrocketed as these gifted vignerons began implementing cutting edge technology such as optical sorting in 2009. In 2017, Château Berliquet was acquired by the Chanel Group, the famous fashion label which also owns the Second Growth property in Margaux, Château Rauzan Ségla. The 2010 vintage of Château Berliquet provides the
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Posted: March 04, 2021Categories: BordeauxRead more »
The Women Winemakers of Bordeaux
International Women’s Day is on March 8th - just around the corner. At Laguna Cellar, we are proud to present wines with connection to several of the many talented and hardworking women in the Bordeaux wine trade.
Though there are past reports of Bordeaux being a traditionally male dominated industry, more and more women are taking a leadership role in the trade than ever before. We want to take a moment and share our appreciation for a few outstanding women-run chateaux. Not only are these women producing knockout wines, but they are also breaking barriers and remaking the image of Bordeaux. That’s something to be celebrated, particularly around this time of the year!
The Trailblazing Women of Château Pichon Lalande
For the true wine connoisseur who loves sensual wines that pack a powerhouse punch – look no further than this Pauillac tour de force of a producer, Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande.
Château Pichon Lalande defies
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Posted: February 12, 2021Categories: BordeauxRead more »
Our selections for February 2021 are:
Paul Jaboulet Aîné Domaine de Thalabert 2018, Crozes-Hermitage, rated 93-95 by Joe Czerwinski of the Wine Advocate. Paul Jaboulet Aîné Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert is from the northern Rhone Valley. This is a terroir known for producing good syrah, the only red grape permitted under the Crozes-Hermitage appellation's official rules. The origin of Syrah has been confirmed to be indigenous to the Rhone Valley. Crozes-Hermitage counts Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage as its neighbors. While not as coveted as Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage, one does not have to pay the nosebleed price of Côte-Rôtie either.
Château Kirwan 2016, Margaux, rated 89-91 (Neal Martin). Château Kirwanwas one of the châteaus actually visited by America's first wine connoisseur, Thomas Jefferson. He wrote about Kirwan in his wine journal, and rated it a Second Growth (Jefferson's personal ratings system preceded the official 1855 Classification). At the
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Posted: June 15, 2020Categories: BordeauxRead more »
It isn't every day you hear a lady calling herself "a heartless cow" for not giving 100 points to Château Margaux 2015 (Paul Pontelllier's last vintage), like wine critic Lisa Perrotti-Brown just did yesterday. To make up for her past hesitancy, maybe, she went on to say this about Château L'Eglise Client 2019 (Denis Durantou's last vintage):
"This L’Eglise Clinet is difficult to review, not because it is Durantou’s last wine, but because beyond all the quality factors, this wine so clearly, evocatively tells a story of a man’s life and achievements like very, very few wines can. How many points is that worth? For me, it’s off the scale."
That statement about Denis Durantou's winemaking prowess should not come as surprise to subscribers of Laguna Cellar Wine of the Month Selections.
Just in the past six months, we have featured Denis Durantou's wine twice, once before we knew how dire his health conditions were, once 10 days after his premature passing.
I am a big fan of Denis
