2015 Baron Des Chartrons Bordeaux

Nose of fresh red fruits. Great structure, soft tannins, and fresh finale of ripe cherry and blueberry. Elegant and very typical of the appellation.

Baron des Chartrons Rouge is ideally paired with grilled beef, cheese pastas or lamb.

One of the most—if not the most—famous red wine regions of the world, the Medoc reaches from the city of Bordeaux northwest along the left bank of the Gironde River almost all the way to the Atlantic. Its vineyards climb along a band of flatlands, sandwiched between the coastal river marshes and the pine forests in the west. The entire region can only claim to be three to eight miles wide (at its widest), but it is about 50 miles long.

While the Medoc encompasses the Haut Medoc, and thus most of the classed-growth villages (Margaux, Moulis, Listrac, St-Julien, Pauillac and St. Estephe) it is really only those wines produced in the Bas-Medoc that use the Medoc appellation name. The ones farther down the river, and on marginally higher ground, are eligible to claim the Haut Medoc appellation, or their village or cru status.

While the region can’t boast a particularly dramatic landscape, impressive chateaux disperse themselves among the magically well-drained gravel soils that define the area. This optimal soil draining capacity is completely necessary and ideal in the Medoc's damp, maritime climate. These gravels also serve well to store heat in cooler years.

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Baron D'Arignac is a great companion of the best moments in people's lives. A great, inexpensive alternative to champagne. This sparkler has fine bubbles, a good mousse and crisp, spritzing acidity on the palate. A good aperitif.

Medium sweet, medium acidic, honey melon notes, orange marmalade notes, hint of honey.

TASTE Mellow and sweet whites are medium-dry or even sweet. You can discern apricot, honeydew melon and floral notes in these wines. Residual sugar rounds up the flavour.

TIPS FOR USE These wines are all characterised by delicious, fruity sweetness, which means that they are excellent for socialising and a good match for Eastern dishes and vegetables. Try with Indian vegetable or chicken korma, shrimp and cheese quiche or black label Emmental.

HOW TO SERVE White wines are best served chilled, at 10–12°C. Chilling a bottle from room temperature to the perfect serving temperature takes about two hours in a fridge. The sweeter the wine, the cooler it can be served.

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Negrita is a blended rum which is distilled on the French islands of Reunion, Guadeloupe, and Martinique in the Caribbean. It is made from sugar cane juice, not molasses

Armagnac Saint Vivant is a brandy with a very special, very aromatic flavour. The Armagnac was the first French schnapps and is said to be more than 700 years old. For this reason, it is considered the oldest distillate in Europe. The Saint Vivant will explain it to you through its excellent taste that will lead you to savour a piece of history.

TASTING NOTE:

Color: Has an attractive amber colour with mahogany hues.

Smell: Exquisite aromas of prunes mixed with vanilla, caramel, violets and some spicy notes.

Taste: It has a complex entry due to its dense texture and aromatic character. On the palate: the power of alcohol is felt intertwined with caramelized fruit essences, which are rounded off with notes of leather, wood and tobacco.

PRODUCER: Saint Vivant.

Winery located in the French commune of Condom, in the department of Gers. In 1975 it was acquired by the La Martiniquaise group of companies.

COUNTRY: France.

ELABORATION DETAILS: This magnificent Armagnac comes from the distillation of wines made with different varietals of white grapes from the region of Gascony, among which are Ugni Blanche, Baco and Folle Blanche.

The fruits are fermented and then distilled in traditional copper stills. Finally, the liqueur is left to mature for a year in French oak barrels. The entire production process takes place in the commune of Condom-en-Armagnac, located in the southwest of France, which has had the Bas-Armagnac designation of origin since 1936 to make this content-type of liqueur. Another peculiarity of this distillate is its incredible presentation of the traditional bottle with a sloping neck.

ALCOHOLIC STRENGTH: 40%

Classic Grand Cavalier brandy is a legendary drink noted for its mild and long-lasting taste. It has a hint of freshly toasted bread and sweetish dried fruit. The aftertaste contains notes of cinnamon and exotic fruit.

The rich aroma of Grand Cavalier allows the brandy to stand out from others: long aging process in oak barrels provides the brandy with exclusive taste characteristics and unique aroma of flowers and nuts.

In 2011, this brandy was awarded a silver medal at the prestigious International Wine and Spirits Competition.