From: Saint-Émillion, Bordeaux, France
Varietal: Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Taste: On the nose, this reveals enticing aromas of currants, raspberry, violet florals, graphite, tobacco leaf, clove, and cacao. These complex notes continue seamlessly on the palate, highlighted by cocoa-dusted cherries and tobacco. Despite being nine years old, the wine still displays remarkable youthfulness. If you choose to enjoy it now, we highly recommend decanting. This wine will continue to develop beautifully and can be held for another ten years.
Pairing: Simple grilled meats can enhance the taste of Saint-Émilion wines. Medium-rare or well-done steaks pair well with the wine's lighter tannins. Other grilled meats that pair well include lamb chops, rib steak, and flank steak. Tomato-based pasta dishes like lasagna or pizza napolitana pair well with Saint-Émilion. When a Saint-Émilion has a higher proportion of merlot, it can pair well with spicy Asian dishes like rogan josh (Kashmiri curry) or Chinese or Korean hotpots.
Easy Duck Confit
By Melissa Clark
About: The Carles Vineyards have been a family passion for four generations. Jean-Claude Carles and his wife Marie-Danielle Carles founded the vineyards by bringing together family properties in the St-Emilion region. Their leading production site is Château Panet, which has been in the family since Jean-Claude’s great-aunt passed it down in 1924.
Jean-Claude was passionate about wine and continued to grow the vineyard. In 1948, he bought Clos La Rose, which added soil variety to their wines. In 1957, he acquired Château Haut-Fonrazade to meet the high demand for wine after the war. By 1961, he fell in love with Château Coudert and added it to their vineyards. He and Marie-Danielle renovated the estate while preserving its historic tower from around 1800, making it their family home and vineyard for one of their best wines. In 1994, Marie-Danielle inherited part of the family estate in Pomerol and created the Château Croix des Rouzes vintage, expanding their reach into this prestigious Pomerol wine region.
Their sons, Jérôme and Gilles Carles run the family business today. They bought Clos Jacquemeau in 1999 to create their own wine. They’ve introduced new management styles focused on building relationships and team cohesion and new technologies to enhance their wines.
