Wines News & People
Organized by the Embassy of France in Singapore and UBI France, The asian tour previewed in Singapore’s Hilton recently after a tour of Taipei and Ho Chih Min city. My rough estimate would put at around 50 or more trade buyers and wine enthusiasts were present at this 9 wine exhibitors strong road show.
We had time for one, whom we are reviewing the wines from Chateau La Gorce and Canteloup. The estate was founded in 1821 by a Madam Force when ownership moved on to a Raoul Fabre and his children in 1980. Today, this 36 hectares estate is overseen by winemaker and owner Denis Fabre (as pictured above), whom intend to continue to exploit and export his wines outside France.
The practices of Chateau La Gorce and Canteloup, sited some 7km south of the commune St. Estephe is one of modernity. Planted with 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the wines are picked late, destemmed, before being lightly crushed and seeing fermentation in vats for 18 to 21 days. They are then aged in its cellar for another 18 to 20 months before bottling and release. Some 25,000 cases or 300,000 bottles (2003 had a lower output at 200,000 due to rigid selection) are made yearly of which 80% is exported outside France.
For more information about this maker, please email info@chateaulagorce.com or click here to access its web-page.
Information is correct at time of publishing with images from the event and Chateau La Gorce representative courtesy of Singapore’s Jeri Soh of Jericho Photography.
As below is our summary of our impression of the wines. Please click on the name of each hyper-linked wine label to view its image and for further elaboration. Thank you for viewing.
The 2002 La Gorce at 12.5% (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot) is a simple and light wine with herbabecous, black currant aroma, but in restrained proportion with light expression. Balanced, soft, dry with wood flavors on the palate.
2002 拉高斯酒庄. (12.5% 酒精度, 50%赤霞珠, 45%美乐, 5%品丽珠, 小华帝) 是个简单葡萄酒. 赫伯, 黑加仑醋的香味，不过还是稍有不够开放. 挂杯均匀, 入口柔滑, 干燥的味觉, 充满了橡木味道. 10/20分
2003 La Gorce, 13.5% (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot) was brimming with bitter dark and ripe berry fruit, licorice aromas, some tea and drying tannin.
2003 拉高斯酒庄. (12.5% 酒精度, 75%赤霞珠, 15%美乐, 10%品丽珠, 小华帝) 充满怨恨和成熟的黑果味, 甘草风味. 入口帶出有些茶叶味, 干燥坦宁. 12.5/20分
2004 La Gorce, 13.5 (with the usual blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot) is indunated with a distinct but present stewed red berry and black cassis aroma. Casual on the palate. A classic and typical French Bordeaux with herb and black currant flavors.
2004 拉高斯酒庄. (13.5% 酒精度, 75%赤霞珠, 15%美乐, 10%品丽珠, 小华帝) 蕴涵一种独特中炖的黒莓的紅漿果和黑醋粟风味. 味道马马虎虎. 并有一种法国梅多克特有的香草味及黑加仑味. 13.5/20分
2005 La Gorce, 13.5% (I would feel beside the official blending information, this vintage is seeing more Merlot in it. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot). A beautiful, modern dry red Bordeaux from a vintage where winemaker and winery representative Denis Fabre needn’t work too hard. Fresh and fleshy with compacted red fruit and underlying black currant notes. Full-bodied with density and balance, with realtively youthfulness, and gripping acidity and tannin. Best from 2011.
2005 拉高斯酒庄. (13.5% 酒精度, 75%赤霞珠, 15%美乐, 10%品丽珠, , 小华帝). 这款波尔多葡萄酒香气非常诱人, 漂亮. 香气独特. 新式变干. 鲜明, 丰满. 有波尔多葡萄酒的独特香气. 酒体成熟均衡. 这款葡萄酒口感相对年轻, 充满了心弦的酸味, 和强烈的坦宁. 14.5/20分
2005 Château Canteloup (Premières Côtes de Blaye) 13.0% with 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 55% Merlot has a dense core red colored body, with distinct yet candied red fruit aroma, with some toast. Easy on the palate, quite light, with a simple and light finish.
2005 Canteloup. (13.5% 酒精度, 45% 赤霞珠, 55% 美乐). 浓厚的深红色酒体, 散发出精致而清淡的红果香, 些许辛辣和淡淡的烘烤芳香. 口感和谐, 回味轻快. 12.5/20分
2006 La Gorce, 13.5% (with the usual blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot), is rich and highly toned, with soft tannin and a fruit driven body. Lacks weight.
2006 拉高斯酒庄. (13.5% 酒精度, 50%赤霞珠, 45%美乐, 5%品丽珠, 小华帝). 入口圆润, 饱满, 单宁柔滑. 酒体平衡度好, 红色水果的香味在余味中仍有体现. 12.5/20分