An excellent château, owned by the Fabre family, situated between Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe, which Christopher has followed for many years.
The blend is typical for the region usually 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Traditionally vinified and aged in oak barrels this is a fine, aromatic wine where flavours of ripe cherry are complemented with a hint of liquorice and vanilla.
France
Bordeaux
Cru Bourgeois Haut-Médoc AOC
Château Lamothe-Cissac
Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot-Petit Verdot
13%
Cork
Drink now + 2 years
The
Bordeaux region of
France
The most famous wine name in the world, Bordeaux, is found towards the south west corner of France, surrounding the historic city of the same name.
The climate in Bordeaux is very marginal, which means vintages can sometimes be challenging, although the region’s relentless optimism when it comes to talking about the quality of each vintage has become a source of some amusement in recent years, as each year is declared “the vintage of the century”.
Then again, wines from this region are often rated as of the most superior quality in the world, and have long been held high on a pedestal as a benchmark style for other regions all over the world to copy. The region is also living proof that blended wines should not be sniffed at because, as here in Bordeaux, they produce some of the best wines in the world.
On the left bank of the Garonne river, along the region known as the Médoc, Cabernet Sauvignon rules, although seldom are its wines made from 100% Cabernet and are often softened with the fleshy Merlot. There are five red grapes permitted in red Bordeaux; Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot.
The left bank is home to the five First Growth châteaux. These properties have been given elevated status under the famous 1855 classification system, which ranked the properties in Bordeaux according to quality. While this is still pertinent today, there are also a number of quality wines on the left bank of Bordeaux which did not make the grade more than a century and a half ago. Today these wines are often referred to as Cru Bourgeois and can be a source of value for money Bordeaux.
Coming back to the right bank north of Dordogne, the clay soils make Merlot a more favourable grape to grow than Cabernet Sauvignon and is the home to St Emilion and Pomerol.
We must not forget that Bordeaux is also the region of Sauternes, another world class, often regarded as benchmark style of wine. Made from one or all three white grapes Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle which have been affected by the noble rot condition called botrytis, they make heady, perfumed, unctuous sweet wines. The same white grapes, especially Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, are used to produce dry white Bordeaux, a style which has been much overlooked thanks to the region’s red wine fame but which can be a fruity, refreshing aperitif or seafood-matching wine.
Other Bordeaux regions of note include Entre Deux Mers, Côtes de Castillon, Blaye and Bourg.
Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot-Petit Verdot
A classic mix of red varietals that is found in Bordeaux but has been transport around the world and can now be found in all the major wine producing regions of the world. Dependent upon the percentages of each varietal this wine is usually full-bodied, with lots of blackcurrant and red berry fruit from the Cabernet and Merlot and spice from the Petit Verdot which is often used is small quantities to add structure and colour to the wine.
07.09.12
Seven Deadly Glasses by Kacper Hamilton
While by no means new, CellarVie Wines could only marvel at the creative brilliance of London-based designer Kacper Hamilton and his marvellous ‘Seven Deadly Glasses’. Whilst floating aimlessly on the worldwide web during our lunch hour we stumbled upon these beautiful wine glasses, inspired of course by the seven deadly sins; lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride.
18.04.12
Bordeaux: The region and places of interest
A winemaking legacy to rival any region in the world, Bordeaux, lying near the Atlantic coast in the Gironde department of Aquitaine, is a beautifully picturesque city steeped in history and boasting a plethora of interesting places of note. 1810 hectares of the historical part of the city has been acknowledged by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and although the region’s winemaking traditions are at the epicentre, there remains a wonderfully eclectic array of exquisite attractions outside their winemaking customs.
17.04.12
Bordeaux: Food and wine of the region
Famous for producing some of the world’s most expensive and sought after wines; the region of Bordeaux also has a rich gastronomic culture.
16.04.12
Bordeaux: An introduction to the wine region
Lying on the Atlantic coast in the southern part of western France, and divided by the Gironde Estuary and its two major rivers, the Dordogne and the Garonne, Bordeaux remains one of the finest wine producing regions in the world.
Salads & Vegetables
This wine works well with chargrilled and roasted vegetables as well as smoked and cured meats and mushrooms.
Fish & Seafood
A good meaty fish is best served with this wine. A lightly grilled tuna steak or a nice piece of salmon will go down a treat.
Pasta & Other Sauces
This wine works well with tomato based sauces such as bolognese. It will also go with wild mushroom risotto and truffle based sauces.
Meats
Flavourful meats such as beef, pheasant and duck are perfectly paired to this wine or try it with a good sausage casserole and cured meats such as Parma ham.
Herbs & Spices
A broad range of herbs and spices such as mint, nutmeg, garlic and chives can be used to draw out the flavours of this wine.
Spicy Foods
Spanish and Italian dishes work well with this wine - think tuscan beans and arrabbiata.
Cheeses
Tastes delicious served with goat's cheese, cambozola, and mature Cheddar.