Gamay, Pinot Noir, Gamaret and Garanoir. A wine for hunters and gathers and lovers of Mother Nature. Lutry is a quaint, pretty little medieval town in the Vaud canton on the edge of Lake Leman. Its origins go way back in time to the Neolithic period. Every year in September it has a great wine […]
Quatuor 2011, Grand Cru, Domaine du Montet Bex
Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah A heavenly rich wine this blend of mainly Bordeaux varieties (apart from Syrah, its main abode being the Rhone Valley in France) perched above the salt mines in Bex. The Merlot and Cabernet Franc bring softness and fruit; the Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, tannin and stamina. Bex is […]
Gamay, Abbaye de Mont, Mont-sur-Rolle 2013
Gamay Vieilles Vignes, Abbaye de Mont, Mont-sur-Rolle 2013, Ville de Lausanne Vieilles vignes means old vines, well, how old? You may ask. In this case between twenty to thirty years. Vines can continue to produce winemaking grapes for about 200 years. The older the vine, the better the wine. But the older the vines, the smaller […]
Gamaret Meylan 2012
Gamaret Meylan 2012 Veering away from Valais towards Ollon this time. Ollon is situated at the foot of the mountains on the southeast end of Lake Leman near Aigle. Gamaret, à la mode for quite a few years now, is a red wine grape variety created at the Station Fédérale de Recherches en Production Végétale […]
Cabernet Franc, Quintessence 2012, B Dorsaz Valais
Cabernet Franc, Quintessence 2012, B Dorsaz Valais Cabernet Sauvignon, as you probably know, is the offspring of Cabernet Franc. Cab Franc was crossed with Sauvignon Blanc to create Cabernet Sauvignon. It is one of the Bordeaux varieties and has been around for centuries. It is also grown throughout Europe, the United States, New Zealand and […]
Clos du Brûle-Fer Johannisberg AOC Valais 2013
Clos du Brûle-Fer Johannisberg AOC Valais 2013 In Valais Johannisberg is the second most widely planted white grape variety after Chasselas. It is also known as Sylvaner and Rhin in the French speaking part of Valais and Grüner Silvaner, in the German speaking part. Its origins however are somewhat of a mystery. Some say it […]
Syrah Prestige AOC Valais 2013 Cave Jean Maret, Fully
Syrah Prestige AOC Valais 2013 Cave Jean Maret, Fully Valais has many choices of wine – more than 70 different grape varieties. Even the Dalai Lama has a few vines in Saillon at Farinet’s trail. Farinet was the Robin Hood of the Alps and a master of forgery (do visit the intriguing museum of forgery […]
Neuchâtel blanc – Château d’Auvernier 2010
Neuchâtel blanc – Château d’Auvernier 2010 It’s not often you get the chance to try aged Chasselas, but if you ever do, you must. It transforms into something entirely different from its young original state. It becomes more like a Marsanne (a variety found in Valais also known as Hermitage in the Northern Rhone valley […]
Galaurus, Villette Grand Cru, 2011
Galaurus, Villette Grand Cru, 2011 Ahh…. something a bit different for a change. If you are getting a bit bored with the classics – then try this. St Laurent (a red variety that has been around for over 400 years and grows well in coolish climates. Galotta (Gamay & Ancellota) and Pinot Noir are the […]
Dôle des Monts, 2012 Robert Gilliard, Sion
Some Pinot Noir, some Gamay and voila you have Dôle. The two grape varieties (Pinot Noir and Gamay) assembled together create an entirely different and distinctive flavour than when on their own; this is the uniqueness of this wine. Dôle usually requires at least 50% of the wine to be Pinot Noir and the rest […]