Cote Rotie vineyards (Domaine Bonserine, Rhone)

vineyard hut domaine bonserine ampuis rhone france

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Domaine Bonserine, Côte Rôtie, Rhône, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

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Domaine Bonserine is a wine producer in the northern Rhône Valley. It is located near Ampuis, the central town in the Côte Rôtie appellation. Domaine Bonserine was bought by Domaine E Guigal, the biggest producer in the region, in 2006, but is managed separately.

Domaine Bonserine has around 10 hectares of vineyards in Cote Rotie, which makes it one of the biggest producers. The Cote Rotie wines are made from syrah grapes – powerful wines full of fruit and tannin. Sometimes there may be a touch of viognier (white) grapes in the blend to lighten it up a bit.

Domaine Bonserine also has a few hectares of land in Condrieu. There is grows the white viognier grape, making aromatic and powerful whites.

The Cote Rotie vineyards are on steep slopes, sometimes terraced. Vines are trained individually and not on wires. The land is often too steep for that and it is not the local tradition. Instead the vines have support from wooden poles, sometimes one per vine, sometimes three. This is called en echalat.

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Rhone Cote Rotie Domaine de Bonserine - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

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Someone dropped a handful of spaghetti? (Domaine Gerard Bonnefond, Cote Rotie, Rhone)

syrah vineyard cote rotie domaine gerard bonnefond ampuis rhone france

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Domaine Bonnefond, Côte Rôtie, Rhône, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

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Domaine Gérard Bonefond is a small family owned winery in Côte Rôtie, in the northern Rhône Valley. The wine making facility is in the small town of Ampuis (just next to the Château d’Ampuis) and the vineyards are on the hills above the town. They have no more than a few hectares of vineyards with parcels both on the Côte Brune and Côte Blonde.

The vines grow on the steep, sometimes terraced hills around Ampuis. The vineyards are planted with syrah grape variety. A few vines of the white viognier may also exist. The wines are exclusively red – powerful, dark, intense, often needing a few years of aging.

http://www.domainebonnefond.com/

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Rhone Cote Rotie Domaine Bonnefond - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

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Sauvignon blanc (Chateau de Tracy, Pouilly-sur-Loire)

Harvested grapes. Sauvignon Blanc. Chateau de Tracy, Pouilly sur Loire, France

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Chateau de Tracy, Pouilly-sur-Loire, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

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Chateau de Tracy is a winery in the upper Loire, in Pouilly sur Loire, just across the river from Sancerre. It is owned by the family of the count d'Estutt d'Assay. The main building is a rather grand chateau overlooking a valley. As many of the properties in this region, they make exclusively white wine from the sauvignon blanc grape, with the appellation Pouilly-Fumé. Some tasters say that the 'fumé' (smoky) comes from a slightly smoky or flinty aroma in the vine, coming from the flinty soil. I have great difficulties discerning that. The wines are very racy, elegant and fresh. In the area there is also some white made from chasselas (under the Pouilly-sur-Loire appellation).

The vineyards are managed in what is called 'culture raisonnée' (sometimes, curiously, called sustainable wine growing in English). This means, in short, that they use very little chemical treatment but if really needed they will use it. An interesting experiment they are doing is a vineyard planted with very high density - vines planted at 17,000 vines per hectare (compared to the usual 7000 to 10,000). This has turned out very well and produces a full-bodied complex sauvignon blanc wine. They call it "HD" (haute densité).

http://www.chateau-de-tracy.com/

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Loire Pouilly sur Loire Chateau Tracy - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

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The little house at the end of the road (Domaine d'Ardhuy, Clos des Langres, Burgundy)

vineyard clos des langres ardhuy nuits-st-georges cote de nuits burgundy france

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Clos des Langres, Domaine d'Ardhuy, Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

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Domaine d'Ardhuy owns two wine estates: the Domaine d'Ardhuy at Clos des Langres in Burgundy and the Domaine de la Cabotte in the Rhône Valley. The Domaine d'Ardhuy in Bourgogne is located magnificently in the 'monopole' vineyard Clos des Langres in Corgoloin where it has a charming winery in the middle of the vineyards. The Clos des Langres is just one of several vineyard plots the Domaine d'Ardhuy owns in Burgundy but it is certainly their best known cuvée.

In total they have 42 hectares of vines in several different appellations in Burgundy in both the Côte de Nuits and the Cote de Beaune. Their wines range from regional appellations (Bourgogne Rouge and Blanc), over 14 village appellation, 15 premiers crus appellations to 6 grands crus (in Corton and Vougeot). Both red wines from pinot noir and white wines from chardonnay are made. The Clos des Langres vineyard is an AOC Côte de Nuits Village 'monopole' (single ownership) located just north of Ladoix and a bit south of Nuits Saint Georges.

The vineyards are managed in 'lutte raisonnée' which means minimal use of chemical fertilisers or treatments. The soils are worked mechanically. To fight the grape worm they use sexual confusion pheromones. Vinification is traditional. Most of the red grapes are destemmed, but a small percentage may keep their stems. The grapes (or the must for the whites) are then put in fermentation tanks. Some pigeage (punching down of the cap) is done on the reds. Some of the wines are aged in wooden barrels in the barrel cellar under the main building. Carel Voorhuis, a Dutchman, is in charge of the winemaking.

http://www.ardhuy.com

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Bourgogne Cote de Nuits Clos des Langres Domaine d'Ardhuy - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

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No, I did not taste it - Clos Vougeot 1845. Unfortunately.

In the underground wine cellar: lying bottles in the treasure chamber where the oldest bottles are kept Two old bottles of Clos de Vougeot 1845 the oldest bottles in the cellar and one bottle from 1846. Red Burgundy wine vaulted vault ceiling with contrasting lights, Maison Louis Jadot, Beaune Côte Cote d Or Bourgogne Burgundy Burgundian France French Europe European

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Clos de Vougeot, Vougeot, Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

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Clos de Vougeot (or Clos Vougeot) is a grand cru vineyard in the commune of Vougeot in the Cote de Nuits in Cote d'Or in burgundy. In its centre there is an old medieval monastery, called the Chateau du Clos de Vougeot.

The Clos de Vougeot has some 50 hectares, which makes it the biggest grand "vineyard" (perhaps more accurately, grand cru appellation) in Cote de Nuits (Bourgogne). It was created in the medieval age by the Cistercian monks from the Citeaux Abbey.

The vineyard is enclosed by a stone wall, hence the prefix "clos". It produces red wines from the pinot noir grape (a small portion of chardonnay, pinot blanc and pinot gris is allowed). Clos de Vougeot is also famous for the large number of owners who each own a plot of the "vineyard". The number varies depending on the source, sometimes quoted as high as 80. Jasper Morris lists 41 in his book on Burgundy. The truth is probably in between. Some of the land owners do not make wine themselves but sell grapes or must to others. Since it is a very well known grand cru appellation many négociant consider it important to be able to offer a Clos de Vougeot wine to their customers.

Each year there is a famous festive dinner given at the Chateau du Clos de Vougeot. It is the Confrerie des Chevalies du Tastevin who gives their great annual dinner.

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Bourgogne Vougeot Chateau du Clos de Vougeot - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

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Railings and tanks (Herdade de Mingorra / Henrique Uva, Portugal)

Fermentation tanks. Henrque HM Uva, Herdade da Mingorra, Alentejo, Portugal

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Herdade da Mingorra (HM UVA) Winery stock photography samples

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Herdade da Mingorra (also called H.M. Uva, after the founder Henrique Uva) is a new winery in the Alentejo (Baixo Alentejo) region in Portugal, some two hours' drive south east from Lisbon. It has 1400 hectares of land of which 135 ha are planted with vines. Being recent the winery is equipped with modern technology, stainless steel tanks, punching down machines, laboratory etc. The investment was in the order of 2 million euro. They make a range of wines, from very affordable blends to top of the range prestige cuvees: Alfaraz (blends and single variety), Uvas Castas, Vinhas da Iras (Grapes of Wrath), and Terras d'Uva are the names used.

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Alentejo Herdade da Mingorra Uva Portugal sample stock photos - Images by Per Karlsson

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Buds are bursting and here each is worth a fortune (Batard-Montrachet, Burgundy)

bud burst on the vine chardonnay batard-montrachet puligny-montrachet cote de beaune burgundy france

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Le Montrachet Grand Cru, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

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Le Montrachet is perhaps one of the most famous white wines from Burgundy, or even from anywhere. It is made from grapes grown in a small vineyard in Bourgogne, so even if many people know of it, few have actually tasted it. It is certainly one of the most expensive white wines in the world.

Montrachet is an appellation controllee grand cru vineyard split between the two villages Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet. It is exclusively for white wines, thus made exclusively from chardonnay grapes. The total vineyard area is less than 8 hectares. This tiny vineyard is, as always in Bourgogne, not in the hands of one winery, but the property of several winemakers and wine growers. According to Wikipedia there are 18 owners and 26 producers. Each owner has his own rows of vines. In other words, there are at least 26, if not more, different Montrachets produced each year.

Burgundians are not for making things simple, so this tiny vineyard plot has neighbouring vineyards (which are often considered as part of Montrachet, when talked about in general terms) of almost equal fame: Batard-Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet, Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet, and Criots-Batard-Montrachet, this last having less than 2 hectares... There is also a plot (without a specific appellation) called Grand Montrachet.

Some well known owners/producers of Montrachet are Laguiche, Joseph Drouhin, Domaine de la Romanee Conti, Hospices de Beaune, Bouchard Pere & Fils, Domaine Leflaive.

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Bourgogne Cote de Beaune Le Montrachet Grand Cru - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

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This is not a Primeur (Chateau Brane Cantenac, Bordeaux)

Chateau Brane Cantenac, Margaux, Medoc, bordeaux, France

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Chateau Brane Cantenac, Margaux, Medoc stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

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Chateau Brane Cantenac is in the commune of Margaux in the Medoc region in Bordeaux (not to be confused with the neighbour Cantenac Brown!). It is one of the "classified growths", classified as a deuxième cru (second growth) in the ancient classification of 1855. The vineyards extend over some 90 hectares. It is planted with cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc. Today it belongs to the Lurton family, who is one of the great land and property owners in Bordeaux. It is run by the charming Henri Lurton since 1986, the oldest son of Lucien Lurton. The soil is gravel, sand and clay. The winery (chai) has recently been renovated and has an impressive range of new wooden fermentation vats. Wine is aged in French oak barrels, with some racking. It is bottled and labelled with a gold-and-black label of not the most modern design.

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Bordeaux Medoc Margaux Chateau Brane Cantenac - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

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A newly developed, unusual grape variety: marselan (Mas du Notaire, Rhone)

marselan recently planted vines vineyard mas du notaire rhone france

[Marselan, which is the correct spelling, is a cross between cabernet sauvignon and grenache developed in the 1960 with the hope of combining the heat resistant qualities of the grenache with the aromas of cabernet sauvignon.]

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Mas du Notaire, Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

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The Mas du Notaire is a winery in the Costieres de Nimes region in the southern Rhone Valley in France. It borders on the Languedoc and is in the Camargues, close to the Mediterranean Sea. The winery is the property of the Rambier family (Maryse, Jean-Pierre, Mireille and Henri-Pierre) who also owns the Domaine Haut Lirou in Pic Saint Loup in the Languedoc. It is not by chance that it is called Mas du Notaire - the family business is being property notaries.

The Mas du Notaire wine estate has 30 hectares of vineyards planted with a variety of grape varieties typical for the south: syrah, grenache, marsanne and others. They have also planted a recently developed crossing called marselan. Winemaking is quite classic, with long maceration in temperature controlled fermentation vats. Some of the wines spend time in oak barrels, some of which may be new.

The Mas du Notaire makes several different wines: a rosé and a red, made mainly from mourvèdre, grenache and syrah; a cuvée called Maître (the official way of addressing a notary or lawyer) which is a red wine made from mourvèdre, grenache and syrah; and a blend called Mon Acte (which also happens to be a technical legal term) dominated by syrah with some grenache and mourvèdre.

http://www.masdunotaire.com

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Rhone Costieres de Nimes Mas du Notaire - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

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Big stones, galets. Imagine the plough they need! (Chateau de Nages, Rhone Valley)

big 'galet' stones vineyard chateau de nages rhone france

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Domaines Michel Gassier, Châteu de Nages, Mas Molines (Domaine de Molines), Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

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Chateau de Nages and Mas Molines (Domaine de Molines), or let’s call it the Michel Gassier Domaines, are located in Costières de Nîmes in the southern Rhone Valley in France. The Costieres de Nimes is a wine region and appellation on the border between the Rhone region and the Languedoc, and definitely rooted in the Mediterranean climate and culture. It has many similarities to both. The Gassier family has been winemakers for four generations. They are also much involved in the fruit trade, which has some benefits when you are also a winemaker.

The land and the vineyards are marked by the sun, the proximity to the sea, the garrigues herbs and in general a very, very stony soil. It resembles the famous soil of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape vineyards with its big round stones, the galets. The soil is geologically called villafranchien and gres.

The Gassier family has two main wine properties: Chateau de Nage with vineyards mainly planted with syrah and some grenache, and the Mas Molines which is a recent addition by Michel Gassier himself. Mas Molines is in organic farming.

The Chateau de Nages / Domaines Michel Gassier makes a wide range of wines, from bag-in-box wines over popular-design labels for a young consumer group to serious prestige cuvees.

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Rhone Costieres de Nimes Chateau de Nages Mas Molines - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

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This is what makes the wine to what it is (Domaine Alain Voge, Cornas, Rhone)

soil in the hand of Alberic Mazoyer domaine alain voge cornas rhone france

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Domaine Alain Voge, Cornas, Rhône, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

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Domaine Alain Voge is a wine producer in the Cornas appellation (AOC / AOP) in the northern Rhône Valley in France. The winery is located in the village Cornas, near the centre of this rural French commune. Alain Voge has run this winery for many years and made it into one of the most well-respected names in this region. Today day-to-day management and winemaking is in the hands of Alberic Mazoyer, a very passionate, talented and ambitious winemaker.

The Domaine Alain Voges makes a quite wide range of wines. First there is of course the Cornas, red wines made exclusively from the syrah grape, three different cuvees from different terroirs and in different styles: Les Chailles, Vieilles Vignes and Vieilles Fontaines (old is good it seems). They also have a red Saint Joseph, four different white wines from the little-known Saint Péray appellation (one of which is sparkling), and a Côtes du Rhône Syrah. The vineyards of domaine Alain Voge are managed organically with an almost reverential respect for the soil. Very little is mechanised, most vineyard work is done by hand. The winery is small, hidden in a cul-de-sac alley in the old village. It is traditionally equipped. Some of the wines are aged in oak barrels but the wines are not really marked by the oak. It is more a question of giving just a touch of extra structure.

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Rhone Cornas Domain Alain Voge - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

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