2008 Château Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux

The estate Château Palmer is a star in the Margaux appellation, on the left bank of the Bordeaux region. After having built its legendary story on vintages that have become mythical, Château Palmer continues to write its history under the direction and guidance of the talented Thomas Duroux .

The vineyard Benefiting from an exceptional terroir located in the immediate vicinity of the Gironde estuary, Château Palmer comprises an unusual grape composition in the Médoc, with a strong emphasis on the Merlot variety, which appears alongside Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The vintage 2008 was characterised by a late harvest, due to difficult weather conditions which had an impact on the entire vegetative cycle. Although the winter ended with mild and dry conditions, the cool weather from mid-March to the end of April delayed bud break. Part of the vineyard was hit by a hailstorm at the end of May, a month already marked by very heavy rainfall. The flowering in June under cool and rainy weather conditions caused significant coulure, particularly on the old Merlot vines. Moreover, there was a constant high mildew pressure throughout the growing season. Summer conditions were dry and sunny until August 10th when rainfall increased disease pressure. From mid-September onwards, the weather was dry and sunny until the harvest, accompanied by a northerly wind which dried out the botrytis outbreaks. The grapes harvested at optimum maturity were particularly healthy, deep and very fine.

The blend :Merlot (51%)Cabernet Sauvignon (41%)Petit Verdot (8%).

Château Palmer 2008

Characteristics and tasting tips : The tasting Colour A beautiful deep garnet colour with purple hues.

Nose: The nose reveals delicious fruity and floral fragrances. When swirled, the bouquet becomes more complex with rich expressions of red fruits. Palmer 2008 has preserved the freshness and aromatic delicacy of the vintage.

Palate: Fresh from the outset, the palate seduces with its fullness and intense fruity aromas. The fragrant character of the vintage blends with a superb tannic tenderness. The finish is persistent and delicious.

Cellaring Enjoy today, this Château Palmer 2008 can wait in the cellar for several decades to reveal its full aromatic palette.

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Rosé Imperial displays a pink color with amber highlights. Lively and intense, the bouquet exudes red fruits (wild strawberry, raspberry, cherry) with floral nuances of rose and a slight hint of pepper. On the palate, the wine shows a juicy intensity of berries (strawberry, raspberry, red currant) rounded out by the fleshiness and firmness of peach and the freshness of a subtle note of mint.

Tasting Panel: Lovely pink hue; fresh, fragrant, and smooth with notes of strawberry and apple; elegant and long.

Wine Spectator: Delicate verbena and candied pink grapefruit zest accents lead to macerated blackberry, toasted nut and saline notes in this balanced and creamy rosé, with well-cut acidity.

Wine & Spirits: This blend is mostly Pinot Noir and Meunier, including 10 percent red wine for color. Chardonnay accounts for 10 to 20 percent, including a portion of reserve wines that may be providing the oceanic, oyster-shell notes that bring to mind Champagne's Kimmeridgean limestone. This is broad and loose up front, with fruity scents of orange and pomegranate. Then the wine keeps buzzing with brisk acidity, tightening up and extending the flavors with energy. An impressive release of Imperial.

James Suckling: A complex and fresh nose with fresh berries, as well as berry pastry and biscuits. The palate has a fresh, crisp and lively feel with impressively upbeat berries. Drink now.

Decanter: Restrained red fruit nose. Long, rolling palate, fresh and crisp throughout, with abundant cranberry, sherbet lemon, green herb and ginger flavours.

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%

This non-vintage Rose is the end result of a desire to create a Rose champagne with a delightfully luscious, fruit-based charm. Jacques Peters, the cellarmaster, and his team wanted a champagne that would be accessible and naturally engaging while conserving Veuve Clicquot's essential values in terms of style. The wine has a luminous color with attractive pink glints.

The nose is generous and elegant, with initial aromas of fresh red fruit (raspberry, wild strawberry, cherry, blackberry), leading to biscuity notes of dried fruits and Viennese pastries (almonds, apricots and brioche). The fresh attack is followed by a fruity harmonious sensation on the palate. The wine is perfectly balanced in the best Veuve Clicquot style of pink champagnes, combining elegance and flair. The wine works its magic—this delectably full champagne can be enjoyed as a true delicacy. A deliciously fruity wine in earlybloom, this is a wonderful aperitif to be shared as a twosome or simply with friends. Made using 50 to 60 different crus, the cuvee is based on Brut Yellow Label's traditional blend: 50 to 55% Pinot Noir, 15 to 20% Pinot Meunier, and 28 to 33% Chardonnay.

JP. Chenet Medium Sweet Red, delicious aromas of red fruit - redcurrant and raspberry. This is a perfect wine to pair with hearty casseroles of red meat and spicy dishes.

TASTE Smooth and fruity reds are medium-bodied or full-bodied wines that often have a trace of sweetness. Soft fruitiness is a typical characteristic of these wines. You can discern notes of ripe or dried fruits and delicate spiciness in these wines. With low or medium tannins, they are also suitable for those with a sensitive mouth.

TIPS FOR USE These versatile players of the red wine world are ideal for socialising and buffet tables. Try with sweet-and-sour pork stew, Thai chicken curry or spicy sausages, such as chorizo or salami.

HOW TO SERVE Red wines are best served slightly below room temperature, at 16–18°C. Chilling a bottle from room temperature to the perfect serving temperature takes about half an hour in a fridge.

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Since its founding in 1765, Hennessy has been guided by a passion to craft the world’s finest Cognacs - our drive to Never Stop. Never Settle.

Hennessy Cognac is crafted with a strict set of standards defined by the Master Blender Renaud Fillioux de Gironde and handed down from generation to generation. However, when it comes to enjoying Cognac, we haven’t followed any rules since 1765. Hennessy has created extraordinary cognacs since 1765 and Hennessy Very Special represents the Tasting Committee’s unique expertise. Only the most distinctive eaux-de-vie are selected which are then carefully matured for several years in oak casks and skillfully blended to reveal their warm, full-bodied flavor. Through the nose, Hennessy V.S brings together an intense and fruity character with pleasantly oaky notes. When savored, powerful flavors suggest grilled almonds, supported by lively notes reminiscent of fresh grapes.