Reviewed by
Evelyn
If you’re looking for a high-quality wine subscription box for yourself or as a gift, be sure to check out My VitiBox. This popular monthly box ensures that you’ll receive an exciting special selection of fine wines that are handpicked by the famed sommelier Philippe Defleur (former sommelier of La Tour d’Argent and the Élysée Palace).
You’ll also receive a set of Tasting Notes from Philippe and all of the wines arrive in a sturdy shockproof box so that you needn’t worry about any breakages whilst they’re en route.
April’s My VitiBox features a bottle of red and a bottle of white wine, as part of their Colours and Flavours subscription.
Château Lieujean 2015, Cru Bourgeois, Haut-Médoc (13% vol)
History: Described by Phillippe as one of the best Cru Bourgeois wines in all of Médoc, this special bottle of red comes from the Lieujean family who have been recognised as winemakers in Bordeaux since 1868. Even back then, the estate was famous for its quality wines that have a strong personality and this has not changed in the present day, as this wine is a great example.
Grape: Composed of a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot which is typical of a Médoc wine, this mix ensures an intense flavour with a good ageing potential.
Senses: Poured into the glass, the eye is greeted to a beautiful, shiny ruby red shade and the nose is treated to a pleasant and expressive aroma with lots of fruits and spices. Taste-wise, this wine is bone dry, medium-bodied with marked soft tannins and an equally soft texture. The fruity notes of Blackberries work well with the spices of Cinnamon and Clove for a warming evening drink. It pairs well with dishes such as Beef Carpaccio and Roast Rabbit with Plum Sauce, as well as Cherry Cake if you prefer to serve it after the main occasion.
Edelzwicker, Cave de Hunawihr, Alsace (12% vol)
History: Edelzwicker is a typical wine from Alsace in eastern France. After World War II, wine merchants in Alsace were disorganised and therefore not able to properly sell their wares in Hunawihr where most of the wines were purchased. To remedy the problem, groups of local winemakers formed a co-operative, and nowadays Cave d’Hunawhir is ranked the best co-operative in Alsace by Revue des Vins de France, the main wine magazine in France.
Grape: Eldelzwicker is a noble blend that features three grapes; 25% Sylvaner, 15% Chasselas and 60% Pinot Blanc. This helps to give the wine a fresh and youthful complexity for a particularly balanced and refreshing flavour.
Senses: I was excited to try an Eldelzwicker wine as I’d yet to come across or taste one before. It has a pale, straw yellow colour with a lovely expressive aroma of fresh fruits. On the palate, it’s bone-dry, lively and light bodied with notes of Apple, Pear and Hawthorn for a fruity and floral mix that’s reminiscent of Spring and Summer. I loved it! This wine pairs well with Chicken dishes, Cathelain Cheese and Apple Pie.
