Reviewed by
Evelyn
My VitiBox are a French wine subscription box that encourages fellow wine drinkers to try something new and expand their drinking horizons. All of the wines that are featured in the boxes have been handpicked by chosen by the famed sommelier Philippe Defleur (former sommelier of La Tour d’Argent and the Élysée Palace), so with his stamp of approval, as well as his level of expertise and vast knowledge, you know that you’re going to be getting only the good stuff!
What I really like with My Vitibox is how Philippe has presented his thoughts about each wine in that month’s box in an easy to read booklet, so you can taste the wines properly and truly savour them through all of the senses. It’s this attention to detail that sets My Vitibox apart from many of the other wine subscription boxes on the market.
In October’s My Vitibox I found two bottles of wine as usual, but this time there was a red and a rosé, instead of the usual red and white combination. I love rosé so this was a pleasant surprise!
Château Lieujean, Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, 2015
Starting with the bottle of red, I enjoyed reading about the history of this wine in the accompanying booklet. Château Lieujean was founded in the 19th century and has produced some of the best Médoc wines that regularly appear in Cru Bourgeois’ distinguished classifications. This vintage 2015 is hailed as one of the greatest vintages in Bordeaux by Phillipe and features a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot grapes.
In the glass, this wine has a dark ruby colour which is shiny and thick, and it has an expressively fruity aroma. Taste-wise, it was surprisingly semi-sweet, with a fresh, medium-bodied and smooth texture. There are strong fruity notes of Blackberries, Blueberries, Black Currants and Black Cherry, with subtler Woody hints which makes it perfect paired with Beef and Steak dishes, as well as a strongly flavoured Cheese plate. This is one of the nicest Bordeaux reds I’ve ever tried!
Comme Un Goût D’été Rosé, Côtes de Gascogne 2015
Comme Un Goût D’été is literally translated as ‘A Taste Of Summer’ and this Rosé is most definitely that! Produced by Lionel Osmin & Cie, this winemaker has been a top name in the industry since 2011, especially in South-West France where his vineyard is located in the very heart of Gascony. This Rosé offers the typical blend of many of Bordeaux’s finest reds, but in a fresh new Rosé sensation, thanks to a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot grapes that are used to create it.
Perhaps that’s why this innovative Rosé has a such a striking, shiny and bright Grapefruit-esque colour which helps it to live up to its summery namesake. To the nose there’s a pleasant fruity aroma and drinking this wine really makes you long for those hot summer days! It’s bone-dry, light-bodied and smooth, with a unique freshness which would go well with Grilled King Prawn dishes and fruity desserts such as Strawberry Sorbet with Fresh Mint. I really enjoyed this one, but it did make me want to book a holiday in the sun somewhere!
