Chateau Rousselle - 2004

Vintage: 2004
Type: Bordeaux
Country: France



I found the 2004 to be quite tasty; very good value for money. Well aged and ready to drink.

Despres - La Madone

Vintage: 2006
Type: Fleurie
Country: France - Beaujolais



DESCRIPTION
The colour of this wine really impressed me. It was deep purple. The aroma was equally impressive: intense fruits with a hint of flowers. The producer recommended drinking the wine now, as is, but also keeping it for 5+ years. I imagine this wine would complement a gorgeous lamb roast or hearty beef stew.

Despres - Domain du Niagara

Vintage: 2007
Type: Fleurie
Country: France - Beaujolais



DESCRIPTION
This is a very different Fleurie, if you are used to drinking Georges Duoeuf's Fleuries. This wine is robust and full-bodied. The producer recommends that the bottle be kept a year or two in order to fully reveal the wine's intense flavours of blackcurrants and wild blackberries.

Gruss - Gewurztraminer

Vintage: 2007
Type: Gewurztraminer
Country: France - Alsace




This is young wine with a bright yellow colour. When swishing it around the glass, one notices very short legs, meaning that it lower in alcoholic content. Its nose has notes of elderflower and exotic fruit. When tasting the wine, one detects something flowery and also lychee fruit. The consistency of the wine is somewhat thick but not heavy. This is a crisp wine due to its acidity. This bottle can be laid down on rack for some time because it will take some time to mature.

Gruss - Pinot Gris

Vintage: 2004
Type: Pinot Gris
Country: France - Alsace




This wine was the oldest vintage presented from Domaine Gruss at the 3D wine tasting session. Because of its age, it has a light golden colour. Upon smelling the released aromas, hints of honey and flowers come through. This is a dry wine but it is also soft on the palate.

Gruss - Cremant

Vintage: Non-Vintage
Type: Cremant (non Champagne sparkling wine)
Country: France - Alsace




This was the sparkling wine that was served to greet guests to the wine tasting. Guests were expecting champagne but received this instead. The wine was light and refreshing, so it is suitable as an apperatif or dessert wine.

Chateau Rousselle - Prestige

Vintage: 2002
Type: Bordeaux
Country: France



This wine is quite aged, which is why when the glass is leaned against white paper, the colour fades toward the rim. The colour verges on brown rather than red. The nose is very mossy and earthy; however, the taste is light and peppery (cloves). This is a fairly alcoholic wine, which is shown by the legs running down the sides of the glass after giving it a good swirl.

Chateau Rousselle - 2005

Vintage: 2005
Type: Bordeaux
Country: France




What sets this wine apart from the others presented during the Chateau Rousselle session was the colour. The wine is almost like a black ink but the taste has notes of almond and blueberry.

Chateau Rousselle - 2001

Vintage: 2001
Type: Bordeaux
Country: France




This was the oldest of the vintages of red at the wine tasting session. This wine has a very herbal taste, perhaps because of the terroir the grapes came from.