Reviewed by
Evelyn
For wine lovers, My VitiBox is a fantastic way to discover a range of high-quality French wines that have all been hand selected by the famed sommelier Philippe Defleur (former sommelier of La Tour d’Argent and the Élysée Palace). Every month, Phillipe makes his selections and then the boxes are shipped directly from France to your doorstep, ready for you to enjoy with your friends and family that weekend.
Along with the bottles of wine, you’ll also receive Phillipe’s Tasting Notes which provide heritage information and guidance on how to taste the wines like a professional, plus a copy of My Vitibox’s magazine that contains features on French culture, recipes and of course, articles on wine and the vineyards from where they come from.
As part of the Colours & Flavours subscription, I received a bottle of red and a bottle of white in this month’s My VitiBox:-
Trio Tempo 2016 Lionel Osmin & Co – IGP Tolosan County
This 2016 vintage comes from Lionel Osmin & Co, a popular South-West house and vineyard set up by two friends, Lionel Osmin and Damiens Sartori. Located in the heart of Gascony, their vineyards benefit from an oceanic climate thanks to their proximity to the Pyrenees. This helps to stimulate the production of the sugar in the grapes during the hottest parts of the day, whilst their natural acidity is preserved during the colder periods.
Made from 100% Gros Manseng grapes, this dry white wine has a pale/straw yellow appearance in the glass, which is accompanied by a open and expressive fruity aroma on the nose. Taste-wise, it is very dry but maintains a fresh fruitness thanks to hints of White Fruits, Quince, Peach and Apricot. Really lovely and pairs well with Goat’s Cheese, Salmon Salads and Mango Coulis.
Château Chapelle Labory 2015, Cuvée Parcellaire, Fronsac
Moving onto the red, this bottle comes from a family that are rich in Bordeaux’s heritage as they have been winemakers since 1628. The Trocard family’s motto is a strong respect for the soil and maintaining sustainable viticulture, with the desire to transmit the age-old family tradition of winemaking to future generations.
This 2015 vintage contains a blend of 90% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec which results in a wine that has a pretty ruby red colour in appearance and a fruity and expressive aroma. On the palate, it has a robust taste of tannins, with strong woody notes, blended with more subtle flavours of Cocoa and Red Berries. I really enjoyed this one and it goes well with the classic French Basque Cake with fresh Cherries.
