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More wines available from Michel Gaunoux
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle:
$279.95
A perfumed, complex and mostly still primary nose offers up earthy red berry fruit, underbrush and a touch of animale...
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle:
$113.30
This offers a step up in aromatic elegance with its cool, pure and highly complex nose of extract of plum, violets,...
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Winery
Michel Gaunoux
Vintage: 2008
2008 saw very high yields across wineries in much of the southern hemisphere, as a result of highly favorable climatic conditions. Although in many areas, these high yields brought with them something of a drop in overall quality, this could not be said for South Australia's wines, which were reportedly excellent. Indeed, the 2008 Shiraz harvest in South Australia is said to be one of the most successful in recent decades, and western Australia's Chardonnays are set to be ones to watch out for. New Zealand's Pinot Noir harvest was also very good, with wineries in Martinborough reportedly very excited about this particular grape and the characteristics it revealed this year.
Pinot Noir also grew very well in the United States, and was probably the most successful grape varietal to come out of California in 2008, with Sonoma Coast and Anderson Valley delivering fantastic results from this grape. Elsewhere in United States, Washington State and Oregon had highly successful harvests in 2008 despite some early worries about frost.
However, it was France who had the best of the weather and growing conditions in 2008, and this year was one of the great vintages for Champagne, the Médoc in Bordeaux, Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence, with Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay grapes leading the way. Italy, too, shared many of these ideal conditions, with the wineries in Tuscany claiming that their Chianti Classicos of 2008 will be ones to collect, and Piedmont's Barberesco and Barolo wines will be recognized as amongst the finest of the past decade.
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is one of the planet's most widely grown and enjoyed grape varietals, and thanks to the popularity of the key wines it is associated with – Burgundy and Champagne – it has successfully spread from its native home in France to much of the wine producing world. Pinot Noir means 'black pine' in French, and this refers to the extremely dark, inky color of the fruit, and the fact that it grows in conical bunches, resembling a large pine cone. It has long been revered for its wide range of refreshing, summery flavors, and the fact that it produces red wines of a beautiful garnet color and light body. More recently, sparkling wines made exclusively with Pinot Noir have been extremely popular, and the orchard notes found in the fizzy 'blanc des noirs' wines mark out just how versatile this grape varietal really is. Despite being notoriously difficult to grow, it isn't hard to see why this grape is now found in vineyards all over the world, as it is synonymous with romance and decadence, quality and fantastic flavor
Region: Burgundy
In the beautiful French wine region of Burgundy, there is archaeological evidence to suggest that there has been viticultural activity going on for at least two thousand years. To add to this, there are early written records praising the exceptional wines produced in this region dating back to the 6th century, making Burgundy one of the oldest established and still operational wine regions in the world. The region is most commonly associated with fine red wines, with Pinot Noir being the primary grape varietal grown on its rolling hillsides and gently sloping valleys. However, Chardonnay grapes are also produced in abundance for the production of their fine white wines, with both varietals benefiting greatly from the region's warm, hot summers and the superb soils which make up the terroir.
Country: France
French winemakers are subjected to several laws and regulations regarding the wines they produce, and how they can be labeled and sold. Such procedures are designed to increase the overall quality of the country's produce, and also to ensure that wines made in each particular region or appellation are of a character and type which is representative of the area. Thankfully for consumers of wine world-wide, the French have a particularly high reputation to uphold, and seem to do so flawlessly. Every year, wineries from all over France produce millions upon millions of bottles of fine wine, making the most of their native grape varieties and the excellent terrain which covers most of the country. From the expensive and exquisite red wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy, to the white wines and cremants of central France, the French are dedicated to providing the world with wines of the highest quality and most distinctive character.
Appellation: Cote De Beaune
The beautifully and unforgettable French region of Cote De Beaune has been revered throughout the centuries, and recognized as one of the key producer's of the world's finest white wines. The region is highly respected as an excellent producer of Chardonnay wines, and the Chardonnay grapes which grow there, on the southern slopes of the Cote d'Or, are packed full of the unique and powerful characteristics of this very special terroir. Interestingly, Cote De Beaune produces more red wine than white wine, despite its white wines being so famous. The red wines of Cote De Beaune are mainly made from Pinot Noir, but are relatively very light and fruity in their character, perfect for sipping on a warm, sunny day alongside a wide range of foods.