March 2018 Imported Wine: 2015 Chateau Tarin Vin de Bordeaux
Fine Wine Source Wine
March 2018
Chateau Tarin:
Chateau Tarin is tucked away in The village of Cazaugitat is located in the Southwest of France in the Entre Deux Mers region, 48 km from the city center of Bordeaux. Known as the Garden of Eden, it is a sleepy town with only 255 inhabitants. Entre-Deux-Mers is a wine region in Bordeaux, in France. It is situated between the rivers Garonne and Dordogne, and is bounded in the east by the border of the Gironde department and in the west by the Bec d’Ambès, the confluence of the Garonne and the Dordogne. At 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres), it is the largest sub-region of Bordeaux, although, as there are large areas of forest, relatively little of it is used for growing grapes. The total area under vine is about 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres), with about 250 growers making wine there. The name of the region is derived, not from the French word “mer” (“sea”), but from “marée” (“tide”). Thus, it means “between two tides”, a reference to its location between two tidal rivers. The village of Cazaugitat is a small village located south west of France. The town of Cazaugitat is located in the department of Gironde of the french region Aquitaine. The town of Cazaugitat is located in the township of Pellegrue part of the district of Langon. To put the size (or lack thereof) of the population in perspective, there are only about 17 inhabitants per Kilometer, and there are 100 main residences, 14 second or occasional homes and 12 vacant homes.
About:
Chateau Tarin has approximately 98 acres of gravelly soil planted to Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2015 Chateau Tarin Vin de Bordeaux is fermented as per the traditional method, in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. It is cold soaked and then fermented between twelve and twenty-one days.
Cepage:
70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol:
13%
Tasting Notes:
Bright cherry and deep currant greet the nose and lead to a dark and brooding flavor profile of black cherry fruit on the palate enhanced by balanced acidity on the finish. This is a young wine that will reward patience in cellaring, but can be enjoyed on the table after at least an hour or two decant and/or aeration. You may even want to go as far as opening the Tarin, sampling a glass, replacing the cork and allowing it to open in the bottle overnight.
Food Pairings:
Steak frites (steak and duck fat fries) might just be the perfect complement to red Bordeaux. The boldness of Bordeaux compliments the umami in the meat and the wine’s “grippy” tannins are smoothed out by the dish’s fat content. In fact, Bordeaux wine will taste sweet and fruity against this rich meaty backdrop. The steak frites example shows us that when pairing foods with Bordeaux, you’ll want to seek out foods with a.)plenty of umami and b.) fat to counteract tannin. Beyond this, you can get creative with your pairings. Here are some examples: (Meats) Black Pepper Steak, Roast Pork, Filet Mignon, Beef Brisket, Buffalo Burgers, Chicken Liver, Pot Roast, Venison, Duck, Goose, Dark Meat Turkey, (Cheeses) Ossau Iraty, Basque Cheeses, Manchego, Swiss Cheese, Comté, White Cheddar, Provolone, Pepper Jack, (Spices)Black Pepper, White Pepper, Oregano, Rosemary, Mustard Seed, Cumin, Coriander Seed, Anise, (Vegetables) Roast Potatoes, Lentils, Mushrooms, Onion, Green Onion, Green Bean Casserole, Chestnut.
Jim Lutfy’s Thought’s
Soft & supple with flavors of cedar & tobacco and a long earthy finish. A wine that needs at least an hour of decanting, best served with grilled meats.