Availability: Sold out. Winery website here
Cost: $65
Alcohol: 13.7%
Production: 62 cases
Date Tasted: December 14th, 2014
Tasting Notes: The name for Le Vieux Pin's Retouche is a clever historical reference to a long forgotten practice when Bordeaux producers would secretly augment their Cabernet Sauvignon blends with Syrah from the Rhone Valley for much needed tannin structure, colour and depth. Essentially, it's a 80-20 split of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, (a blend now commonplace thanks to Aussie imports), but it's much more fun to reference sneaky Bordelais of centuries-past.
I found tasting the 2009 vintage of the Retouche to be less intriguing than the clever name, thankfully, for the 2011 vintage, the wine in the bottle measures up.
The nose showcases creamy dark fruit aromas spiked with lifted menthol notes while hints of cherry-cola and spice lie in weight. The palate will seem tight unless properly decanted (or bottle aged for a further 1-2 years), once it opens up, you'll enjoy classic Cabernet blackberry and cassis flavours with Syrah and oak barrel influences adding depth and a pleasant roundness to the wine. The long finish is chalk full of smooth spices. Drink late-2015-2019.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
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