• Vintage 2011 round-up from our vineyards

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Domaine Pillot & Domaine Jacob, Burgundy

• January 2012.  We have been tasting some of our 2009 and 2010 burgundies this month - some tank samples, some finished wines.  The 2009s were typically plush and velvety. The 2010s easy-going, fruity and succulent. Both very exciting vintages! Highlights? Mercurey Premier Cru Clos des Montaigus 2009 from Domaine Pillot, Savigny-Vergelesses Premier Cru and Gevrey-Chambertin En Songe 2010 from Domaine Jacob. All the whites from 2010 were really good, fresh and elegant. Lots to look forward to!.

Champagne Fresne Ducret, Champagne

• December 2011.  3D Partners joined Pierre and Daniella Fresne Ducret at Champagne Fresne Ducret for a vintage magnum tasting evening.  Pierre demonstrated the highly-skilled and artisanal manual disgorging process on four champagne vintages - 1976, 1983, 1991 and 1996. Daniella prepared some delicious light snacks - mini-gougères, savoury bacon, gruyère and scallion muffins, and parmesan-rosemary shortbread - to complement the tasting.  A thoroughly enjoyable evening!  No wonder the champagne blending workshops in 2012 are now fully booked.

Domaine des Grands Devers, Rhône Valley

• November 2011.  Another Rhône blending, this time at Domaine des Grands Devers up in the hills near Valréas. The wines from this domaine are sold under the relatively humble Côtes du Rhône appellation.  Perhaps, as a consequence, they are some of the most misunderstood wines of all. When on form, from an excellent vintage, they have a fragrance, depth and complexity that makes one think of Châteauneuf or Gigondas rather than Côtes du Rhône-Villages. They are true vins de terroir. For next year's release, the blend is 60% Syrah and 40% Grenache. The wine is full of supple, juicy black fruits, liquorice, pepper and garrigue. Lovely!

La Fagotière, Rhône Valley

• November 2011.  Just finished an excellent blending session at La Fagotière in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Pascal and Valérie were on great form. We blended next year’s release - vintage 2010. After a fair bit of experimenting we settled upon a blend of 70% Grenache, 14% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah and 6% Cinsault. The wine has many facets; soft, rich, creamy and mineral with a deep core of chocolate, damson fruit and pepper spice. It has lots of stuffing and will easily last a decade or more, but it is delightful to drink now too! Another delightful vintage to look forward to from the Rhône - perhaps another Gold Medal?

Kahurangi Estate, New Zealand

• October 2011.  Greg and Amanda Day arrive in the UK for their tasting and dinner with 3D Wines' Partners on Friday 28 October. Greg will be showing eight wines - including his four Gold Medal winners and his fresh-as-a-daisy Heaphy Sauvignon Blanc 2011. 

Domaine les Roches Bleues, Beaujolais

• October 2011.  Domaine les Roches Bleues was featured in France’s top wine magazine, Le Point. Our exclusive Côte de Brouilly Des Lys 2009 was the star wine - awarded 19/20 and described as “A lively and hearty wine that really 'hits the spot' [un vin qui vise dans le mille]. It is fresh and fruity with an outstanding tannic structure. Superb.” Wine expert Jacques Dupont commented “The wines from Côte de Brouilly are often very exciting and it is a shame that they are unknown, because many times have we thought that they would capture any lover of burgundy.” We couldn’t agree more!

Domaine de la Motte, Loire Valley

• September 2011.  Tasting Gilles Sorin's Coteaux du Layon Rochefort 2010 recently made us realise what a miraculous wine it is. It is not often nature delivers the early morning mists late autumn, along with humidity and sunshine, that helps create the special noble rot - allowing his Chenin Blanc grapes to produce such a wonderful liquid, maybe 2/3 years in 10. His 2010, released to Partners soon, is up there with the great 1990. It is sweet yet fresh, elegant yet powerful. It lingers ... what a wine!

Domaine de la Chevalerie, Loire Valley

• September 2011.  A visit to our biodynamic vineyard Domaine de la Chevalerie in Bourgueil invariably involves quite a few wines to taste! Pierre Caslot emerged from the caves into the bright sunlight in terrific form, as was Stéphanie who was in the labelling room. The Cabernet Franc grapes look very healthy and taste lovely, though the pips are still green and need some final ripening. Harvest should commence around the 15-21 September if the weather behaves!

Kahurangi Estate, New Zealand

• August 2011.  We have just received news that our Heaphy Sauvignon Blanc 2011 and Heaphy Pinot Noir 2010 have made the journey across the seas and arrived safely in port (earlier than expected). Kahurangi Partners will be the first in the UK to try the super-fresh 2011 vintage of Sauvignon Blanc. Excellent news about the Pinot Noir, it was awarded a Gold Medal at this year’s Spiegelau International Wine Competition. Our mouths are watering at the prospect of tasting both wines!

Château Rousselle, Bordeaux

• August 2011.  All the vats at Château Rousselle in the Côte de Bourg are named after the seven dwarves. I think 'Happy' has to be the best tasting vat! The blending of next years 2010 vintage was a dream. Wonderful juicy fruit. We settled on 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec.

Château Monconseil-Gazin, Bordeaux

• July 2011.  Following a wonderful excursion of our Bordeaux vineyards with Partners, Andrew returns to Château Monconseil-Gazin to work with Jean-Michel Baudet to put the blend together for the 2009 vintage of our Blaye.  The final blend features four varieties: 50% Merlot, 20% Malbec, 15% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. It's a beauty with lovely fragrance, ripe juicy fruit and long, balanced finish. Released to Partners next year.

Domaine Désertaux-Ferrand, Burgundy

• July 2011. Having just returned from a trip to Burgundy, I am inspired by many of the wines I tasted there. One vigneron who is making cracking wine across the range is Vincent Désertaux at Domaine Désertaux-Ferrand – which is based in Corgoloin right at the intersect between the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits. Recent investment in new technology, as well as consistently good viticulture and winemaking results in a style that is fruity, fragrant and delicious to drink. His reds age brilliantly - classic burgundies in fact!  

Domaine Pillot, Burgundy

• June 2011. The affable Laurent and Catherine Pillot at Domaine Pillot in Mercurey.  We tasted the 2009s today [21st]. They surface next year and they're absolutely sublime - beautifully made with exotic Pinot aromas and elegant, lingering flavours of red and black cherry fruit, cream and spice.  Can't wait snap some up next June!

Domaine Drouin, Burgundy

• June 2011. On Saturday 11th - Sunday 12th June, Thierry Drouin will be holding his first Porte Ouverte at his domaine in the Mâconnais region. He plans to include a ‘lazy vineyard walk’ and present some local food producers – there will even be an opportunity to taste some of his brand new Domaine Drouin Pouilly-Fuissé jam! Thierry welcomes 3D Partners to join him.

Domaine Chevrot, Burgundy 

• June 2011. 3D vignerons in the Côte d'Or report that the weather has been very dry and sunny and the vines are three weeks ahead in their development. This points towards an end of August harvest. 2011 ... perhaps a Californian vintage in Burgundy?

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