St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil Cuvée Carine 2005 Tasting Notes

St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil Cuvée Carine 2003

This year’s wine is from the 2003 vintage, when the canicule (heatwave) provided an exceptional harvest.  Spring and summer started fairly gently but temperatures climbed inexorably into August when the whole of France - and the UK - sweltered under record temperatures.  Luckily the Loire Valley escaped the worst of the dryness, the grapes ripened perfectly and were harvested in superb condition some two weeks earlier than normal.  The resulting wine is deep garnet in colour; the bouquet of violets and red fruit leads to a rich, well-balanced palate, but with plenty of body to provide at least 10 years of further development in bottle if carefully cellared.  

Despite being richer and more concentrated than normal, this is a versatile wine that can be drunk at any time, with or without food.  In winter it is best with fish such as salmon, and roast poultry; in the warmer months it is delicious served just below room temperature, or even slightly chilled, when it is the perfect partner to cold meats and all summer salads.  Try it with a hot goat’s cheese salad - another excellent combination of flavours.