Red Wine Folie a Deux Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014. Folie a Deux or madness for two” was founded in 1981 by two pyschiatrists with a passion for wine. The name of the winery refers to a shared psychiatric syndrome where the delusional beliefs of one person are transferred to another. In this case, the founders’ shared passion for wine drove them to take the plunge into the unfamiliar territory of winemaking. Today Folie a Deux specialises in making classic Sonoma wines which express the typicity of the region’s outstanding different terroirs. This bottling is crafted from Cabernet Sauvignon fruit from the Alexander Valley. Here the well-draining volcanic hillsides, warm sunny days and cooling ocean breezes provide ideal conditions for growing top quality Cabernet. Following the harvest the grapes are vinified in stainless steel tanks and the young wine is then aged in French oak and American oak barrels for 22 months for extra polish and complexity. This extended ageing process adds subtle hints of toast, woodsmoke and cigar box spice to the rich dark berry, plum and cherry notes from the Cabernet Sauvignon. On the palate there is a generous full body, smooth and ripe tannins and a very long finish.
2014
Red Wine Folie a Deux Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Red Wine Chateau Pontet-Canet 2014. Decant 2 hours before serving. The origins of Pontet-Canet can be traced right back to 1725 when its new owner, Jean-François Pontet, decided to rename it after his family. It was only in 1972 that the estate began to bottle its own wines, but Pontet-Canet’s modern success is largely due to Guy Tesseron who bought it in 1975. The estate’s vineyards neighbour those of the legendary Mouton-Rothschild and are predominantly planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and some Merlot. Today the estate is one of Pauillac’s largest and the Tesseron family have worked so hard to improve the quality of their wines that it regularly rivals more famous First and Second Growths in the appellation. The property is one of the few in Bordeaux to be certified as both organic and biodynamic, making it a true leader for sustainable viticulture in the region. The classic style of modern Pontet-Canet wines is full bodied and opulent with luscious dark fruit flavours and firm yet approachable tannins. This fine bottling opens with intense cassis, blackberry and sour black cherry along with undertones of green bell pepper, forest floors and spice from the oak ageing. These are very long-lived wines that can be kept in the cellar for at least a couple of decades following the vintage.
2014
Red Wine Chateau Suduiraut 2014. The noble Chateau Suduiraut is one of the top producers of Sauternes, the lusciously sweet dessert wine that uses the noble rot fungus to help intensify the flavours and sugars in the grapes. Located close to the legendary Chateau d’Yqyem, the original chateau building dates back to 1580 and is surrounded by some 90 acres of vineyards which have an average age of 30 years.
2014