Reviewed by
Evelyn
If you enjoy trying out high-quality French wine, My VitiBox are an excellent subscription box to try. All of the have been hand chosen by the famed sommelier Philippe Defleur (former sommelier of La Tour d’Argent and the Élysée Palace) to ensure that subscribers are receiving the finest wines with Philippe’s seal of approval guaranteeing such high quality. My VitiBox is shipped by courier directly from France, and they offer a range of subscriptions to choose from, each resulting in a monthly box that showcases two wines for you to try out in the comfort of your own home.
Each box is accompanied by Philippe’s Tasting Notes and they provide expert guidance on how to taste them like a true wine connoisseur, taking into account the details through the senses (eyes, nose and tongue), as well as giving a brief history of the wines themselves.
February’s My VitiBox contains two bottles of red French wine as part of their Colours & Flavours subscription:-
Maison Andrien Vacher, La Sasson 2016, Vin de Savoie Pinot Noir
History: To the Vachers, wine is first and foremost a family story. Adrien Vacher is the founder of the winery that bears his name. Nowadays, Charles-Henri is proud to highlight his family traditions through typical wines of Savoy. He shares this pride every day with Pauline and Charlotte, his two daughters, who also work on the estate. 2016 is a beautiful vintage in Savoy, mainly revealing freshness and fruity aroma, perfectly revealing the deep nature of these famous Savoie wines.
Grape: This fine red is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes. Pinot Noir is a subtle grape that blossoms on the clay and limestone soils of the Savoyard vineyards. In contrast to wines of the South, Pinot Noir has a low concentration of sugars and alcohol. It results in intense wines, but they remain digestible with a very good tannic structure that’s also supple and soft.
Senses: In the glass, this wine has a bright and shiny raspberry-red colour, and on the nose, it boasts an expressive and pleasant aroma of Red fruits and Spices. This is reflected on the palate with rich and fruity flavours bursting through. It’s very dry, with a light body and subtle woody notes. Absolutely delicious! It pairs well with dishes such as Pork and desserts that feature Hazelnuts and Cherries.
Puy Saint-Front 2016, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux
History: In the 18th century, Baron Alfred de Luze founded Maison A. de Luze & Fils, and first specialised in maturing and ageing the wines before selling them. A visionary and a fine negotiator, Baron De Luze was one of the pioneers in the export of Bordeaux wines into new countries. In addition to its international network, Maison De Luze bought several chateaux in Bordeaux such as Château Paveil and the Château Malleret in Haut-Médoc. The appellation “Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux” is located on the right bank on the slopes getting down from Saint-Émilion. Coming from the same limestone plateau as Saint-Emilion, the wines of this area benefit from a privileged geographical situation with a southern exposure and a difference in altitude of more than 100 meters.
Grape: This wine features a 50/50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes. Cabernet Franc is far from being the most widespread grape variety in the Bordeaux region. However, thanks to its ability to mature early, it is also used further north in the Loire Valley. It brings to the wine notes of crunchy fruit and very nice spicy flavours which is balanced nicely by the Merlot content.
Senses: To the eye, this wine has a deep red colour with purple undertones, but there was a little cloudiness to it as well which I thought was quite unusual as it looks a bit ‘off’. However, the aroma, which is expressive and fruity, reassured me and taste-wise, it retained a freshness and richness, despite this cloudy colour. It’s very dry and has a strong amount of tannins, coupled with lots of lovely flavours of Red Fruits and hints of Blackcurrants, Pepper and Spices. This wine pairs well with stews and Beef dishes.
