1. THE CLASSIC WINES OF FRANCE
BORDEAUX
Chateau Lafite Rothschild - This famous chateau is run along traditional
lines and with fastidious care. It is sometimes described as ‘a magnificent
delicacy of spicy fruit flavors, continuously unfolding and supported by an
array of creamy oak; incomparable finesse’.
It is matured for 18 to 24 months in wood , in 100 percent new oak .
Vintage: 1981, 82, 83, 85, 86.
Maturing: 25 to 50 yrs
Chateau Latour - Latour is the most consistent of all the first growths ,
excelling even in off years. The wine is matured in wood for 20 to 24
months in 100 % new oak. It’s ink black color accurately reflects the
immense structure and hugely concentrated flavor of this wine .
Vintage: 1981, 82 , 83, 85, 86.
Maturing: 30 to 60 yrs
Chateau Mouton Rothschild - The wine is matured for 22 to 24 months in
100 % new oak .Very similar to Latour but has a lighter color and has an
underlying character which is more herbal and minty .
Vintage: 1980, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86 .
Maturing: 20 to 60 yrs.
Chateau Margaux - Referred to as the epitome of refinement and subtlety,
it is the most famous wine in the world .It is vinified in oak casks and
matured for 18 to 24 months .
2. Vintages: 1983, 84, 85
Maturing: 10 to 25 yrs
Chateau Haut Brion - This red wine is fermented in steel vats and matured
in wood for 20 to 27 months. It has a dense choclatey violet flavor .
Vintage: 1981, 1982, 83, 85, 86.
Maturing: 10 to 14 yrs
3. Chateau d’Yquem - This wine represents the ultimate in richness,
complexity , and class.No other botrytis wine of equal body and
concentration has a comparable finesse, blending and balance . These wines
are matured in wood for upto 42 months in 100 % new oak .
Vintage: 1980, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86.
Maturing: 20 to 60 yrs
Chateau Petrus - Is the most expensive wine in the world. The low acidity
of Ch.Petrus makes it an intrinsically soft red wine which, combined with
the inherent lusciousness of the Merlot, enables Petrus to produce intensely
colored super-concentrated wine that would otherwise be too harsh to drink.
Vintage: 1981, 1982, 83, 85, 86.
Maturing: 20 to 50 years
BURGUNDY
Chablis Grand Cru - Always totally dry, the Grand Crus are the biggest,
richest and most complex of all the white wines of Chablis. Their individual
styles depend very much on how the wine maker vinifies and matures his
wine. It has a fine bouquet and rich flavor.
Vintage: 1981, 83, 85, 86
Maturing: 8 to 20 years
Chambertin AOC - This is one of the 9 Grands Crus of Gevrey-
Chambertin. These red wines are always full in body and rich in extract.
They are feminine and graceful with a vivid color, stunning flavor,
impeccable balance and blush.
Vintage: 1980, 82, 83, 85
Maturing: 12 to 30 years
Pouilly Fuisse - This pure Chardonnay wine from Maconnais should not be
confused with Pouilly Fume, the Sauvignon wine from the Loire. These dry
wines range from typical Macon Blanc style. It is rich, and oak-flavoured .
Vintage : 1981 , 83, 84, 85, 86 .
Maturing : 3 to 8 years
4. LOIRE
Anjou - Once a marketing miracle, Rose d’Anjou sells very well in today’s
increasingly sophisticated markets. These coral pink wines are medium
sweet in taste and can be delicious in early spring but tire easily in the
bottle .
Vintage: 1983, 85
Maturing: Non required
Vouvray - At it’s best Vouvray can be the richest of all Loire sweet wines.
The wines are very full bodied , rich in texture and have a honeyed taste.
Vintage: 1982, 83, 85
Maturing: Upto 50 years
RHONE
Hermitage - It is one of the greatest red wines of France with a deep and
sustained color, a very full body with a silky black currant flavor .
Vintage: 1982, 83, 85 .
Maturing: 12 to 30 years