French Wines

Bergerac

Pécharment

Monbazillac

Cahors

South West France - Bergerac

Château Court-les-Mûts

Bergerac, inland from Bordeaux, on the Dordogne, one of the most beautiful parts of France, has produced wine for as long as its illustrious neighbour. If somewhat eclipsed in the past, many wines from the area are now receiving deserved recognition – those from this estate being exemplars.

Pierre Sadoux is the Winemaker of the Year for 2008, a well-earned accolade. He has run the domaine for over thirty years, having gained a degree in oenology at Bordeaux University. The estate was originally purchased in 1960 by his father and now has over 70 hectares under vine. The third generation is at hand; the son of the house, Pierre-Vincent, is now on the team.

The Château produces three types of wine, a dry red, a white (available in oaked and un-oaked versions) and a sweet dessert wine. The red is a Merlot/Cabernet blend, typical of the region. The current vintage offered, the 2004, has a lovely fruit structure and silkiness to it – already drinking well it will undoubtedly improve for several years. The white, Semillon/Sauvignon, again typical, is fresh and appealing, with subtle oaking in the relevant cuvée.

The dessert wines are a revelation. Pierre has been at the forefront of the revival of Saussignac wines, noted by Baudelaire in the 17th century. Granted appellation status in 1982, with a further recognition in 2005, placing the wines officially on a par with neighbouring Monbazillac, his wines are made only from botrytised Semillon. Vinified and matured in new wood, the results are wines of intense concentration, with tones of honey, beeswax, peaches and dark marmalade set against a delicious acidity. The 2001 was voted the sweet wine of the year by 'The Best of Wine in Ireland' in both 2007 and 2008, the first time a back-to-back award has been made.

	White	Vintage	RRP
	Château Court-les-Mûts, Bergerac sec (unoaked)	2009	€12.45
	Château Court-les-Mûts, (elevage fût de chêne) Bergerac sec	2005/6	€16.25
	Red	Vintage	RRP
	Château Petite Borie, Bergerac	2006	11.95
	Château Court-les-Mûts, Côtes de Bergerac	2004/6	€14.70
	Château Court-les-Mûts, Côtes de Bergerac	2005	€15.25
	Oracle 2003	2003	€23.95
	Sweet Wines	Vintage	RRP
	Château Court-les-Mûts, Moelleux Saussignac 37.5cl	2007	€7.40
	Château Court-les-Mûts, old vine Semillon Saussignac 37.5cl	2005	€13.95
	Château Court-les-Mûts, old vine Semillon Saussignac 50cl (magnums available)	2004	€18.95
	Château Court-les-Mûts, old vine Semillon Saussignac 75cl Sweet Wine of the Year 'The Best of Wine in Ireland 2007 and 2008'	2001	€25.85

Pécharment

Les Chemins d'Orient

Pécharment is a small appellation inside the surrounding Bergerac. It has been noted for the high quality of its wines for many years, but is now being considered in terms of the very highest. This is due in no small measure to Regis Lansade, the proprietor of Les Chemins d’Orient. He is also one of the new breed of French winemakers who preaches the gospel of terroir and emphasises the quality of the fruit.

Made from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc in the ratio of 2:1:1, the wine is given thirty five days maceration and then eighteen months to mature in oak, of which about a third is new.

It has an intense black cherry and liquorice bouquet with a very pure loganberry and redcurrant palate. It is a truly lovely wine.

	Red	Vintage	RRP
	Les Chemins d’Orient , Cuvée........, Pécharment	due in

Pécharment

Château Beauportail

On the advice of master wine maker Bruno Billancini of Tirecul la Graviere fame we tasted this Pécharment and were immediately taken by its quality and charm and price. Super concentrated blackberry and cassis with hints of oak, this wine out performs many of its more illustrious Bordeaux neighbours. Fabrice Feytout the winemaker and owner has been achieving much acclaim recently, receiving a Gold Medal in the Challenge International du Vin 2004 for this wine. Yet another wine punching way above its weight.

	Red	Vintage	RRP
	Château Beauportail, Pécharment		due in
	Quintessence de Beauportail, Pécharment	2005	€26.95
	Sweet White	Vintage	RRP
	Monbazillac, grains nobles de la Truffiere 50cl	2005	€20.50
	Monbazillac, grains nobles de la Truffiere 50cl	2006	€20.95

Monbazillac

Château Tirecul La Gravière

This Chateau in the Monbazillac region produces two styles of white wine, dry and sweet. The former was introduced in 2001 and is made from Semillon, Muscadelle and Sauvignon. This is an immensely sophisticated wine, dry but smooth, with a complexity and minerality delicately offset by its lovely acid balance.

The sweet wines are magnificent and majestic and are often compared directly with the legendary Chateau d’Yquem. The grape blend is 50% Muscadelle, 45% Semillon and 5% Sauvignon and the harvest is miniscule, from 7 to 12 hectalitres per hectare. Fermentation is in new French oak, for a minimum of six months. They are then left to mature for another twenty months. Robert Parker has rated this wine at a full 100 in the past! These are pricey wines, but are of such supreme quality that they are worth it in comparison to top growth Sauternes. Quantities are limited.

	Sweet White	Vintage	RRP
	Château Tirecul La Gravière, Monbazillac 50 cl	2004	€2.95
	Château Tirecul La Gravière Cuvée Madame, Monbazillac 50cl	1999 2001	€104.45 €104.45

Cahors

Domaine d'Homs

In 1993 two neighbours, the older Roger Thierry and the younger Daniel Cauzit put their heads and relative knowledge together to create Domaine d’Homs. In possession of some 10 hectares of excellent old vines in the best location they set about to make and bottle wine of the highest quality. Whilst still retaining and respecting the tradition and essence of this once great wine producing region, they were convinced there was more to be done to charm new customers to this often difficult wine. This has been achieved and at present they are the only Domaine to achieve the extremely high standards needed to obtain the coveted “Charte de Qualite” for an unoaked cuvée. Made from 100 % Malbec this is a big wine with hugely saturated colour, deep brooding concentrated dark blackberry, cassis fruit and hints of plum. A good paté, duck breast or some saucisson would be a perfect partner.

	Red	Vintage	RRP
	Domaine Chevaliers d’Homs	1997	€16.95
	Domaine Chevaliers d’Homs	1998	€16.95

Cahors

Clos de Gamot

The Clos de Gamot vineyard has been in the same family since 1610 and what we really have here is a regional as well as a French institution. The lately departed Mr. Jouffreau single handedly kept the Cahors region alive after the legendry frosts of 1956, decimated the Cahors vineyards to 1% of their former 1850 size. There are also pre-Phyloxera grafted vines taken from the last remaining stock in 1882, which makes the Cuvee des Vines Centernaire. Clos de Gamot is made from 100% Malbec. It is made in a time honored traditional way fermented in large foudres and demi- muids. Absolutely no new wood is used. These wines are full bodied, concentrated and tannic when young but age magnificently to produce wines of great complexity and character.

	Red	Vintage	RRP
	Clos de Gamot	2002	€18.95
	Clos de Gamot 2000	2000	€21.40
	Clos de Gamot 1990	1990	€43.95
	Clos de Gamot 1989	1989	€46.95
	Clos de Gamot 1988	1988	€49.95
	Clos de Gamot Cuvée des Vignes Centenaires 2000	2000	€36.00