From crisp whites to the great fortified brands, Britain just can’t get enough of such diverse originality, writes Jonathan Ray
Spain has more acres under vine than any other country. And although, for most of us, Spain equals rioja and rioja equals Spain, there is much else to tempt the wine lover, be it crisp, refreshing whites, soft, mellow reds or the great complex fortified wines of Jerez and Sanlúcar de Barrameda.
At La Cote Saint Jacques restaurant, a Michelin three-star temple of gastronomy in the Burgundy region, chief sommelier Arnaud Laplanche isn’t ashamed to give it a try.
He’s part of a quiet revolution sweeping the French wine business, the world’s largest and fighting to stay that way.
France’s goal: to hold off New World winemakers that have wooed wine lovers and gained market share with jazzy marketing campaigns, helpful information on what’s inside the bottle, and quality assurances that some French wines lacked.
Screw tops, boxed wines, colorful easy-to-understand labels and sophisticated marketing — innovations pioneered by countries like Australia and South Africa — are making inroads in tradition-bound France, even if many still sneer.
A review of Red Wine: Domaine Astruc Reserve Syrah
A little history of this Red Wine’s maker: Domaine Astruc
In the last century, Jean Astruc, coachman of hackney carriage in Bourigeole’s castel, travels the roads around Limoux. His secret dream is to own a Domaine.
This dream comes true when this ex-coachman settles down to work and in 1862 finally acquires 12 hectares of vines in Malras.
His son Jean Astruc carries on the same ideal and purchases lands despite the crisis and his leaving for the battle during the First World War.
In the fiftees, Jean gives his heritage to his son, Pierre At that time the Estate covers more than 30 hectares of vines together with the winery.
In 1977 after his studies, Jacques Astruc, son of Pierre, leaves Paris to follows the steps of his grandfather and comes back to Malras. Him and his father have created the Domaine Astruc.
Since then, the Domaine has kept growing and modernising until turning into a very modern winery in the early ninetees.
Today, the winery vinifies over 300 000 cases per year. The grapes come from owned vineyards or contracted grape producers covering a total of approximately 410 hectares.
In 2003, Jean-Claude and Michel Mas come into the business and purchase the winery Domaine Astruc. Themselves, owner and winemaker of Les Domaines Paul Mas, a successful independent and family run business based in Pézenas, also in the Languedoc, they had been working closely and for many years with Domaine Astruc as the main source for their Vin de Pays varietal wines.
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03 28th, 2008| 