DiscoverVin offers a unique range of authentic French wines. We specialise in good value wines from Bordeaux and the hidden gems of South West France. As well, we offer exciting wines from exceptional independent producers in Provence, Rhone Valley, Loire Valley, Burgundy and Champagne.
www.discovervin.com.au
We were impressed with this tomato tart recipe by Michel Roux in Decanter magazine.
As we grow several varieties of own tomatoes at our home in North East Victoria, we were keen to give it a go. It was quick to make and absolutely superb. There are still some wonderful tomatoes available this autumn.
Tomato dishes can be a bit of a challenge to match with wine. Rich tomato sauces go well with red but fresh tomato dishes can be, somewhat surprisingly, a bit tricky. With the high acidity levels they can "kill" many wines. Crisp wines, not too tannic or oaky are usually best.
One of the suggested wine matches in the article was Chateau Oliver Pessac-Leognan. We have limited stocks of this cru classe white wine from Bordeaux from the incredible 2010 vintage. Robert Parker described this wine as one of the finest dry whites ever from Chateau Olivier and scored it 90-92 points.It is a superb crisp semillon/sauvignon blanc blend from a great vintage. Aged in our underground cellar and drinking fantastically right now.
The other wine suggestion in this article was rosé. A crisp dry rosé can be a great accompaniment fresh tomato dishes. We tried the tart with our best selling Domaine de la Croix Irrésistible rosé 2014. This wine has lovely elegant texture and soft acid and was perfect.
We have previously written a blog post on this excellent white wine from Chateau Beychevelle in Bordeaux, entitled "The ship has come in for white wine fanciers". Since then it has had some excellent reviews. It was reviewed in a trade magazine National Liquor News article on sauvignon blanc and received the highest score amongst all of the sauvignon blancs submitted from Australia, New Zealand and France. They gave it 94.5 points.
It was also reviewed by iconic aussie wine writer Winsor Dobbin who made it one of his wine of the week In December 2015. "Looking for a white wine that offers a little bit more than simple fresh fruit flavours? You've come to the right place. Grand Bateau is a collaboration between Maison Barrière and sister Bordeaux company Chateau Beychevelle, and made by Beychevelle winemaker Philippe Blanc. Sometimes a blend with a semillon component, the 2014 vintage is made from 100% sauvignon blanc with some parcels vinified in oak barrels and others in vats. The end result is a complex palate, full of interest, in which toasty vanillin oak co-exists alongside rich stone fruit characters.A wine of balance and interest'
Our friends The Wine Wankers also tried it and said this..
Also mentioned in a blog recently by Madeline Puckette at Wine Folly on best value Bordeaux wines. And Sean Mitchell in the Grape Observer "In the glass, this release has charming aromatics of lemon, stones, minerals and old cedar. Food friendly, the palate is fresh with good acidity and great balance."
It has been impressing us recently as a lovely wine to drink and as a great match to many summer foods including salads. Pick some up here at our website or ask your favourite independent liquor store to get it in. Also available at wholesale price to trade (price on application to info@discovervin.com.au)
We have literally cleared the decks for the arrival of the
first shipment of 2014 Grand Bateau Blanc from Chateau Beychevelle. And right on cue, this wine has received the highest score (94.5 points) in trade magazine National Liquor News' tasting of sauvignon blanc.
Emblazoned with the
famous Beychevelle long boat on the label, the 2014 vintage is billed as one of
the best white's recent years from this prominent producer.
The same team that produces the prestigious
Chateau Beychevelle red wine makes Grand Bateau which is 100% sauvignon blanc. Beycheville is one of a handful of medoc producers who also make a white wine
Philippe Blanc,
Chateau Beychevelle’s chief winemaker, guides the assemblage of wines
based on a selection of the best wines from the Beychevelle estates. Chateau
Beychevelle follows “terra vitis” and “sustainable viticulture” practices, to
produce high quality grapes using environmentally friendly methods.
Chateau Beychevelle is a
classified Saint-Juliencru classéproducer with a tradition of growing
vines on the Garonne gravel of the Médoc
dating back to the Middle Ages.
Our previous vintages
of Grand Bateau have been increasingly well received by our trade and online
customers. We hope that with this
brilliant example there will be a lot of delighted, light bulb
moments from discerning Australian wine drinkers when they try it.
And at $32 for this classy, well made white it’s even easier to swallow!
2014 Grand Bateau Blanc
Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc 100%
Alcohol: 12.5 % VOL
Wine
making: Pre-fermentation maceration
results in a wonderful aromatic structure. 70% of the juice is fermented in new
oak barrels for four months, with accompanying batonnage (stirring of the lees or yeast to give some creaminess and richness to the wine)
Our
Tasting notes: Aromatic nose with
buttery-vanillin oak notes and exotic fruit. On the palate the wine
is round, fleshy with wonderful minerality and delightful exotic fruit
flavours. Lovely balance between the oak, fruit and
acidity. Excellent finish.
This was
a standout wine at the Vinexpo 2015 wine exhibition in Bordeaux. It offers
value for money and exquisite drinking. Just drink on its own, enjoy with a
pre-dinner platter or seafood and white meats. This wine is available in Australia exclusively to DiscoverVin. Click here to order online. We enjoyed it with a beetroot, blood orange and feta salad. Perfect match!
This week we were really pleased to see a review for our new white wine from Bordeaux called Grand Bateau. This is the first time this wine has been imported to Australia. It is available online and to trade exclusively through DiscoverVin. It is one of only a few white wines made in the Medoc- one of the premium red wine growing regions of world. I guess the Bordelais can't drink red all the time!
The bateau refers to the famous sailing ship that symbolises Chateau Beycheville. Ships sailing on the Gironde estuary coming to and from the port of Bordeaux would be saluted by a retired Admiral (the "Amiral of Beycheville") who would lower the flag on the tower of the Chateau.
Sean Mitchell in the Grape Observer published the following review:
"Produced by Château Beychevelle, the Grand Bateau Bordeaux blanc is a lovely wine. A blend of 80% sauvignon blanc and 20% semillon, it has reticent aromatics of apple skin, bruised peach, lemon, stone fruit kernels, hay, grass and gooseberry. The palate is medium to full bodied, the acid medium and its flavours remind of lemon, apple skin, grass and gooseberry. The finish is medium in terms of length and depth of flavour. This is overall a good wine due to the complexity on offer. Good
Abv: 12.5% Price: $24.50 Source: sample"
We think this is a great quality/value for money white wine from a famous Bordeaux producer.
DiscoverVin is excited
to be importing Grand Bateau Blanc, a Bordeaux white from the well-known
Bordeaux Cru Classé producer Chateau Beychevelle.Chateau Beychevelle is a classified Saint-Julien producer with a tradition of growing
vines on the Garonne gravelof the Médoc dating back to the Middle Ages.
The boat (bateau) on
the label refers to the mythical galleon of Chateau Beychevelle.Ships on the Gironde estuary sailing
past the Chateau would lower their sails to honour the Admiral who began
growing vines there over three hundred years ago.
With a rich winemaking history Chateau Beychevelle
has collaborated with Bordeaux negogiant Maison
Barrière to produce this exciting, value for money wine.
The same team that produces the prestigious Chateau Beychevelle red wine makes this wine Philippe
Blanc, the chief winemaker of Chateau Beychevelle
guides the assemblage of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc wines, based on a
selection of the best wines from the Beychevelle estates.
Chateau Beychevelle follows “Terra
Vitis” and “Sustainable Viticulture” practices, to produce high quality grapes
using environmentally friendly methods.
This was a standout wine at Vinexpo 2013.A perfect wine for the summer months, it offers value
for money and exquisite drinking.
Grapes: Semillon (20%), Sauvignon Blanc (80%).
Alcohol:12.5
% VOL
Wine making: Pre-fermentation maceration results in a wonderful aromatic
structure.Seventy percent of the
juice is fermented in new oak barrels for four months, with accompanying
batonnage (stirring of the lees).
Our Tasting notes: Aromatic nose with buttery-vanillin oak notes and exotic
fruit.On the palate the wine is
round, fleshy with wonderful minerality and delightful exotic fruit
flavours.Lovely balance between
the oak, fruit and acidity.Excellent finish.
Online price is $24.50. Trade price on application.
Please call DiscoverVin on 0260 206 016 for more information or to place an order.
Franck Provost Paris Hair is France's number one salon and last night the Double Bay Salon was celebrating its 5th Anniversary. Amber Renae, the Franck Provost brand ambassador, VIP's, members of the French Trade Commission and Alliance Francaise, bloggers, journalists, fashionistas and just about every French person living in Sydney was there! So French, so chic!!
DiscoverVin wines were sponsors of this event and we offered the following wines by the glass:
Château des Saurs, La Constance, 2009 - One of our best sellers is this lovely lighter style red from Gaillac in South West France. Silver Medal winner.
We also offered tastings of some of our best sellers:
Château Jolys Jurançon Sec 2011- a delicious dry white wine awarded 92 points and voted 'Best Import' by Huon Hooke in the Sydney Morning Herald in June 2013.
Chateau de Saurs, Moelleux, 2011 - A late harvest wine made from an ancient variety in Gaillac. Silver medal winnerat the Paris 2012 Concours General Agricole.
All of these wines, I am happy to say, were a hit with Francophiles and French people alike.
There was a real buzz in the air as the glamorous models displayed the Summer 2013 (Hair Style) Collection - long soft curled tresses seem to be the hairstyle of the moment - pity I've got short hair!
The team at DiscoverVin have had a busy and satisfying year and it has been our pleasure to look after you all. Here is a look at our most popular wines of 2012, based on volume of sales. (Where we have clicked over to a new vintage during the year we have counted all the sales of that wine together, regardless of the vintage.) The following makes some interesting reading, none the least for the prominence of rosé. Two rosé wines have made the top 10! Once considered sweet and uninteresting, dry rosé certainly appears to be making a resurgence in Australia as it is in Europe. In France in 2012 rosé sales have exceeded white wine sales. Similarly we appear to be in the middle of a rosé revolution ! Here are the first 5 of our top 10 wines for 2012. We will blog about wines 6-10 next week
This rosé seems to appeal to wine lovers who would not normally look at rosé. It is darker in colour and has more body than other styles of rosé (this is achieved by a pressing of the skins with the juice which otherwise would be clear).
Try some and you will see what all the hype about rosé (and in particular French rosé) is all about.
This wine has been included in the Rosé Revolution promotion this summer.
It was also selected by French wine critics and consumers in the Guide "Un vin presque parfait" (an almost perfect wine). A panel of critics and consumers selected 400 french wines from several thousand to be given this accolade.
From Sean Mitchell Grape Observer ...regarding the 2009.."I enjoyed drinking this rosé from Bergerac situated to the east of Bordeaux, a blend of two thirds cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon and one third merlot. A deeper hue of salmon pink in colour, the aroma is of crisp and crunchy peaches. The palate reveals spices, nectar and a savoury balance. Good drinking and well priced."
A complex and elegant red wine. It is typical of the good value wines that DiscoverVin is bringing to wine lovers in Australia. You won't find this on our website as we are currently sold out! But we have managed to secure a small parcel that is "on the water" at the time of writing- please call 0260206018 or email info@discovervin.com.au for details and to pre-order
Our tasting notes: A deep red and violet purple colour . The nose is lifted and complex that is a complex melange of fruit, subtle spices including green pepper, liquorice, prunes, black cherries and some toasty elements. The palate reflects the complexity of the nose with lovely ripe fruit and spice wrapped in fine tannins This wine has great structure balance and length.
A lovely complex red and great value at the price.
The name says it all. Irresisitible! An irresistible rosé from Provence, the home of rosé. What a great looking bottle and a great tasting wine! Domaine de La Croix, created in 1882, is situated near the village of La Croix Valmer with an outlook to the beaches of St Tropez. It has the classification of cru classé.
Very few Provençal producers are given the cru classé classification, denoting an exceptional winery.
Reviewed by Max Crus, The Daily Examiner Saturday March 17 2012 “A friend once said that she didn’t like rose until she had had one in Provence. I now understand the fuss. The real de la McCoy 8.8/10”. Other reviews on this wine can be accessed on our media reviews page. And a testomonial from a happy customer.."the domaine de la croix is the ‘winner’. Although we thought all three rose that we sampled were incredibly drinkable the domaine de la croix was even more so – truly delicious. " David Sydney 14/5/2012 Madison magazine says " if decadence is what you’re after, then you won’t be able to resist La Croix, Irrésistible Rosé 2010" This wine is being featured in this summer's Rose Revolution activities For more technical details etc quick here
This Jurançon Sec represents great value for money. If you are looking for something other than chardonnay or sauvignon blanc this summer, but don’t want to pay a fortune, this is pretty hard to beat!
"What a gorgeous wine. Lovely balance between fruitiness and elegance. Its dry but fruity; something different & appealing for the summer months ahead" David Sutherland-Smith Border Mail October 14, 2011.
The current vintage-2010- has received a great review by Sean Mitchell of the Grape Observer. "This wine is a winner......The 2010 vintage of Chateau Joly's Jurançon Sec is a very attractive wine indeed ‐ almost like a better version of a sauvignon blanc. Bright and a pale intensity gold in colour, it opens to a pronounced intensity aroma of grass, gooseberries, lemons, jasmine, with just a slight touch of exotic paw paw fruit. The palate is held together well by its firm acidity, it is dry, with medium body, warming alcohol and pronounced intensity flavours that are similar to its aroma, though more firmly seasoned with spices. The length is between medium and long. At $18.99 a bottle for this good level of quality, this wine deserves to fly off the shelves. 89 points(very good)"
We are thrilled to see this lovely easy drinking white make the top 5. It was a big hit when served cold and crisp on a very hot week-end at the Paris to Provence Festival in Melbourne in November. The Queyrans family has owned Chateau de la Bouyere for more than a century. The vineyard is located at the top of Donzac, 45 km to the south of Bordeaux. Grape production, wine making and ageing all take place on the family estate. Vines have an average age of 30 years. Region/Terroir: AOC Bordeaux Blanc Grapes: Semillon (80%), Sauvignon Blanc (20%). Ageing: Drink now. Serve at a cool temperature around 12°C. Our Tasting notes: Lovely pale golden colour with little hints of green. An expressive nose with fragrances of citrus fruits that evolve towards nuances of tropical fruits. The mouth is harmonious and fruity with a great round, rich mouth feel due to the ageing on fine lees. Delicate and balanced. A lovely wine at this price. A stylish wine. Crisp and refreshing, perfect with salads. So that's the first 5 of the top 10.
