South West France Journey

South West France
Tasted Sunday, May 30, 2010 - Saturday, June 19, 2010 by AN with 698 views

Introduction

Me and my wife relaxing for 2 weeks in South West France - touring through Jurancon, Madiran and Irouleguy.

Flight 1 - Charles Hours Jurancons (3 Notes)

Visiting Charles Hours, Clos Uroulat

  • 2008 Charles Hours Jurançon Uroulat 90 Points

    France, Southwest France, Jurançon

    (6/2/2010)

    Purchased this one directly from the domaine, moreover, the bottle was signed by Charles Hours himself :-). No wonder it tasted so good. Still very young, but amazing balance of acidity and sweetness, had plenty of it with local cheeses as wel as apple tart. Delicious!!! Although packed with apple, peach flavours, you could feel honey coming. Great future for this wine. Cheers!

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  • 2008 Charles Hours Jurançon Sec Cuvée Marie 75 Points

    France, Southwest France, Jurançon Sec

    (6/2/2010)

    Wow! This was so acid, that my whole mouth seemed to shrivel. A bit off balance and needs time, however, am not sure it will loose its greenness and acidity. Could not finish the bottle. Green, green, green!

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  • 2005 Charles Hours Jurançon Sec Cuvée Marie 75 Points

    France, Southwest France, Jurançon Sec

    (6/4/2010)

    It was too oxidised for my taste, however, some might like it. I used the remainder for the best ever home made veal stew. Cheers!

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Flight 2 - Madiran 1 - Berthoumieu (2 Notes)

  • 2006 Domaine Berthoumieu Madiran Cuvée Charles de Batz 90 Points

    France, Southwest France, Madiran

    (6/4/2010)

    Tasted against the other cuvee of the domaine (Haute Tradition), this cuvee came out as the winner. Absolutely approachable at this young age (which is surprising knowing it is more than 85% tannat), very fruity on the nose and palate, very subtle oak influence and good length. Had it with home made lamb dinner. Purchased the bottle at Navarrenx wine store. And according to Paul Strang's book - Charles de Batz was the original name of d'Artagnan. What a great story! Cheers!

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  • 2003 Domaine Berthoumieu Madiran Haute Tradition 85 Points

    France, Southwest France, Madiran

    (6/4/2010)

    Considering this wine was in a beauty contest with another great Berthoumieu wine - the great cuvee Charles de Batz - it came out 2nd. Feels like it had the structure, but a little less flesh left out - missing some of the great fruit the other had, while also missing out on the essentials of an older, mature wine. I would have expected more mushrooms, forest aromas. Anyway, it's still a great food wine and picnic wine, if you happen to be in South West France. Cheers!

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Flight 3 - Madiran 2 - Bouscasse (2 Notes)

  • 1995 Château Bouscassé Madiran Vieilles Vignes 91 Points

    France, Southwest France, Madiran

    (6/7/2010)

    This 15-year old Tannat based wine was still amazingly fruity, having a good tannic grip and a very good length. Tasted it alongside 2002, so you could barely notice any differences in colour. The 95 was still medium ruby with deep garnet rim. Absolutely stunning together with veal stew (the ingredients purchased at Navarrenx market and prepared at home, cooked in Uroulat's Jurancon Sec 2005 + 2008 :). Cheers!

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  • 2002 Château Bouscassé Madiran Vieilles Vignes 92 Points

    France, Southwest France, Madiran

    (6/7/2010)

    Tannat is my new love - after Bouscasse 1995 and 2002. I prefer 2002, although the tannin level was higher, it seemed to have retained an excellent level of fruit and was loaded with country aromas. Tasted with the veal stew. Great wine! Cheers!

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Flight 4 - Irouleguy (3 Notes)

My new love - Tannat grape in combination with the Basque food.

  • 2004 Domaine Ilarria Irouléguy Cuvée Bixintxo 93 Points

    France, Southwest France, Pays Basque, Irouléguy

    (6/9/2010)

    The best Irouleguy tasted so far and amazing together with Parmentier de Xamango ordered at the local restaurant Auberge du Lausset at L'Hopital Saint Blaise. Deep ruby core with medium ruby rim. Nose full of cassis, black fruit and very mild oak. Medium body, tannins and acidity combined with great length and lots of subtle fruit, layers of forrest flavours and again mild oak. Great food wine! It's a pity that I did not have the chance to visit this guy (Peio is his basque name) at the domaine. Impressive. Cheers!

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  • 2006 Domaine Bordathio Irouléguy 91 Points

    France, Southwest France, Pays Basque, Irouléguy

    (6/9/2010)

    Tasted in Biarritz in Chez Phillip restaurant. Again - Irouleguy proved again how well it fits with the local cuisine, this time with suckling pig. At this young age, the wine was surprisingly silky, with low silky tannins, medium (+) body and lots of fruit. Great length! Cheers!

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  • 2006 Domaine Brana Irouléguy Ohitza 90 Points

    France, Southwest France, Pays Basque, Irouléguy

    (6/9/2010)

    Consumed at Auberge Claverie at Audaux. Charming little place full of pensioners, however, the food as well as wines and the people were really very much enjoyable. The portions here were so huge, that I barely could finish my EUR25 dinner menu. All I remember is that the wine fit well to everything except the strange vegetable soup. If you happen to be here, take Canard with this Irouleguy, it's amazing. Cheers!

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Flight 5 - Bordeaux - on the way home (2 Notes)

  • 2004 Château Biston-Brillette 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Moulis en Médoc

    (6/19/2010)

    Bought directly after tasting in Chateau, decanted in a big bowl decanter and shared with my wife 3 hours later at the beautiful Chateau Quittignon - Brillette, a family run hotel nearby. This was considerably better than 2007 and 2006 and more developed than the 2005s tried. Medium (+) ruby, with no considerable signs of development in the colour. Nose packed with supple fruit and a very smooth, silky body with medium tannins masked in a sea of supple black fruit. Very enjoyable! Cheers!

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  • 1999 Château Quinault L'Enclos 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    (6/19/2010)

    Bought at Wayne's Margaux store and drank it at picnic somewhere west of Arcins in vineyeards of Ch. Poujeaux. A great picnic site, by the way. This was a great bottle at perfect maturity and to be drunk during the forthcoming 1-2 years (unless you want it older). Deep garnet with lighter rim. Had developed beautiful 2ndary aromas of leather, smoke, cigars, dried fruits and all the other beautiful stuff found in older bordeauxs. Cheers!

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