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Château Pennautier (Cabardès)
We are delighted to list the superb wines of Château Pennautier located in the Cabardès region, just north of the World Heritage town of Carcassonne.
The Château was built in 1620 by the original Count of Lorgeril, an associate of Colbert, Louis XIII's Minister of Finance. The architect responsible was Louis le Vau who was a major contributor to the Château of Versailles.Louis XIII actually visited Château Pennautier in 1632 and Molière presented his plays in the Orangerie. Count Nicholas and Countess Miren de Lorgeril, of the tenth generation, now run the Château and as a result of their innovative and creative management the estate is now regarded as one of the finest in southern France.
 The range of wines is incredible, commencing with the Orangerie red, white and Rosé at around three euros, the middle range Château Pennautier Collection Privée Rouge and Marquis de Pennautier Collection Privée Chardonnay at circa six euros, and progressing to the L'Esprit de Pennautier 1999 and 2001 at under twenty euros, the latter emulating all the qualities of a prestigious growth claret.
The wines regularly win awards and are exported world-wide.
The highly talented wine-maker, Bertrand Seube, has held top positions at Domaine Vieux Télegraphe in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and at Château Mouton-Rothschild, and his knowledge, artistry and experience reveals itself with every waft and every sip.
These wines are, unquestionably, at the pinnacle of best value buys in all of France.
| Orangerie de Pennautier Rosé | 2.95 |
| Flamingo pink in colour with cascades of squeezed strawberry fruit, and just watch it effortlessly glide over Blossom Hill and all the other pink marshmallows of the New World! |
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| Orangerie de Pennautier Rouge | 2.95 |
| A seductive drop of passionate purple from the sun caressed slopes of Carcassonne. | |
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| Merlot de Pennautier 2006 | 3.30 |
| A dark, full, juicy Merlot with a nice soft edge. | |
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| Chardonnay de Pennautier 2005 | 3.95 |
| This delectable drop is astonishing. A ravishing waft of honeycombs ultimately seduce the palate with a gorgeous glow. The equal of a lot of Maconnais Blancs at double the money. | |
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| Château de Pennautier Rouge 2004 | 4.50 |
| Predominantly derived from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot this wine is good Bordeaux style.
Listed by Berry Brothers and Rudd at rather a lot more. |
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| Château de Pennautier Collection Privée Rouge 2002 | 5.95 |
| Rembrandt red in colour - just pour and observe Old Master tints -inhale the Rubenesque opulence
and palate ponder the Géricault glows. A work of art! Awarded three stars in the Gault et Millau Guide 2006.
The 2002 vintage was awarded a gold medal at the Concours des Grands Vins du Languedoc 2005. ’Awarded three stars in the Gault et Millau Guide 2006 and a gold medal at the Concours des Grands Vins du Languedoc 2005.’ |
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| Château Caunettes 2002 | 5.95 |
| Crunchy blackcurrants, ravaged redcurrants, squeezed plums and a stylish splash of prune juice
mingle blissfully with black chocolatey and spicy flavours. Outclasses most red Bordeaux in the same price bracket. This is a very classy drop! |
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| Marquis de Pennautier Chardonnay 2004 | 6.50 |
| An oak-aged Chardonnay which we recently compared with some Meursaults and it actually excelled a few! Gold coloured, rich and unctuous. This wine is listed in Waitrose at double the price! Excellent alternative to a lot of over-priced white Burgundies. |
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| Les Cèdres 2003 |
10.50 |
| Syrah and Malbec tango well together - silky black chocolate merges sultrily with sinewy tannins and hedonistic herbs and spices swirl all around.
If you're a Barolo/Barbaresco fan, you'll love this with your gorgonzola! |
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| Le Mont des Pierres 2002 |
10.50 |
| An esoteric rarity for the region, and France as well! This is 100% pure Malbec. A few wine trade lecturers buy it in order to compare with Argentine Malbecs. Apparently Le Mont is much more complex. | |
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| L'Esprit de Pennautier 2001 (3 stars Guide Hachette) |
17.95 |
| Regarded as the Château Pétrus of southern France this wine is created from a blend of Merlot and Syrah old vines. The proportions vary according to the wine maker's evaluation of the vintage. A powerful and complex bouquet of black fruits, truffles, coriander and pepper. A niagra of rich, sumptuous and intense flavours. | |
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MINERVOIS
| La Borie Blanche 2005 | 4.50 |
| This highly expressive wine, a combination of Syrah and Grenache, conveys aromas of blueberries and blackberries, pepper and spices, and all the scents of the local garrigue. | |
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| Les Hauts de la Borie Blanche 2003 | 7.95 |
| A subtle cedary bouquet is the entrée to a suave and stylish finish. No wonder this wine is listed in top starred restaurants of southern France. A dazzling ruby in the Minervois crown. | |
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FAUGERES
| Domaine du Pigeonnier 2003 |
4.95 |
| A rustic wine, deep coloured and strongly flavoured. | |
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SAINT CHINIAN
| Mas de Terre Neuve 2005 | 4.50 |
| Often regarded as the most Bordeaux in style of the southern reds. | |
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CORBIERES
| La Combe des Oliviers |
3.95 |
| Inhale the local garrigue and reflect upon the fruits and spices. Excellent with the regional cuisine. | |
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