The Tasting Panel magazine

November 2015

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november 2015  /  the tasting panel  /  99 ing summers working at local châteaux doing green tasks and harvesting. Barbe received a National Diploma of Enology at the University of Bordeaux in 2007, and after graduating, worked abroad in Napa Valley, the Valle del Maule in Chile, Niagara on the Lake in Ontario, then in the Marlborough Valley in New Zealand before returning to France to work for a large family estate in Bordeaux as a winemaker. "All those experiences and tastings have developed in me a passion for wine culture," he says. Now, Barbe is in charge of wine purchasing for GCF in the South West of France and in Spain, where his days consist of tasting, blending according to brand and client targets, quality control, technical exchanges with the suppliers throughout the year and more. "Gascony is one of the best regions in France for very aromatic white wines, such as Sauvignon Blanc," Barbe says. "Our Sauvignon Blanc expresses all the character and typicality of this area: fresh and crispy, intense citrus and exotic aromas—grapefruit, lime, pineapple and passion fruit. The mouth is well balanced and rich." J.P. Chenet 2014 Cabernet- Syrah, Pays d'Oc IGP Red ($9.99) Grapes are harvested when ripe, destemmed, crushed and fermented for six to 12 days at a controlled temperature and pressed gently. The wine is matured in stainless tanks to conserve the rich aromas. Clear, intense, nearly black garnet red with purple lights. Cherries and blackcurrants with pepper and spice dance on the nose; the wine is tannic and spicy on the palate with pleasant licorice notes. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Syrah. J.P. Chenet 2014 Grenache- Cinsault, Pays d'Oc IGP ($9.99) Grapes are macerated at a low temperature and the must is filtered after pressing. Fermentation and aging in stainless steel vats both take place at a very low temperature. A salmon-pink rose color hints at a delicate bouquet of strawberries and an elegant balance on the palate. 70% Grenache and 30% Cinsault. J.P. Chenet 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Vin de France ($9.99) Grapes are harvested before fully ripening, then are crushed rapidly and fermented at a low temperature to conserve aromas. Lemon-lime yellow in the glass; white flowers and citrus on the nose; a dry and fruity wine with balanced acidity that's a delicious and cooling aperitif. 100% Sauvignon Blanc. J.P. Chenet Ice Edition Rosé ($19.99) A non-vintage blend of red grapes harvested in the cool early morn- ings, gently pressed and fermented in temperature- controlled stainless steel tanks. Bottle fermented in pressure tanks, the final wine is complex and lightly effervescent with a pale rose color, with a nose of cherries and strawberries and a creamy, smooth texture on the palate. J.P. Chenet Ice Edition Sparkling Wine ($19.99) A non-vintage blend of white grapes that are harvested and gently pressed before bottling. The gently bubbling wine glints shimmery gold in the glass and on the palate, conferring floral and toasted hazelnut notes on the nose and citrus and delicate fruitiness on the palate. J.P. Chenet Brut Sparkling Wine ($12.99) A non-vintage blend of white grapes that are harvested and pressed gently, undergo cold settling, yeasting and fermentation at low temperature. The wine is bottle fermented in pressure tanks for six months, lending the sparkling wine complex- ity. A clear, golden body and green highlights tease to an effervescent and fruity bouquet, white fruit notes and hints of brioche and stone fruits. J.P. Chenet Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine ($12.99) Salmon pink, an intense nose of red berries and a silky, bubbly texture. Aromatic in the mouth with red berries, cherries and strawberries at the forefront. J.P. Chenet 2014 Réserve Unoaked Chardonnay, Pays d'Oc IGP ($10.99) Grapes are harvested when just ripe, pressed and the must is racked at a low temperature for 12 hours, seeded with yeast and fermented at a low tem- perature for one week. A bright, golden yellow color; on the nose—a bouquet of almond, butter and vanilla; on the palate—smooth and full with a pleasant woody finish. 100% Chardonnay. J.P. Chenet 2014 Réserve Pinot Noir, Vin de France ($10.99) Grown in sandy, clayey soil with large pebbles. A ruby red color, notes of red fruit, spice and vanilla on the nose and a complex palate. 100% Pinot Noir. The J.P. Chenet Range Stateside offerings in the J.P. Chenet portfolio include: FRANCE

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