France
Our French wines pay tribute to the classical figure of the authentic bon viveur Jack Barrow that puts his signature on our labels.
Location
France
ABOUT FRANCE
France, one of the most dear and popular destinations in Western Europe, encompasses almost everything; medieval cities, alpine villages and Mediterranean beaches, museums, monuments, art galleries, fashion shows, beautiful châteaux and famous chefs.
The country has a long, prevailed history which begins from the prehistoric period, before the 6th century BC, and goes through Antiquity, the Middle Ages, the prominent French Revolution and the Napoleon aura, until Modern Times.
Its climate is temperate, divided into four distinct areas. The oceanic climate of western France, the continental in the central and eastern part of the country, the Mediterranean of south-east France and the mountain climate found in altitudes of 600-800m. The diversity of the climatic conditions enables France to produce a vast variety of agricultural products.
It is not by chance that the French cuisine is considered to be one of the finest in the world. Each region has iconic traditional specialities and cheeses, but the product France is more famed for, is wine and the most popular viticulture regions include Bordeaux, Burgundy, Beaujolais , Champagne, Côtes du Rhone and Médoc.
WINE TRADITION
Bordeaux, with its classy châteaux and the endless vineyards is a benchmark for winemakers around the world and a dreamy destination for fine wine lovers. Only Paris receives more visitors each year than Bordeaux!
It is the largest wine producing region in France and arguably the most important, influential and popular wine region in the world, dominated by the production of red wine. The designated red grape varieties in Bordeaux are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Carmenere.
The area has a maritime climate, with damp spring times, rather hot, fairly dry summers, usually mild winters, and quite a bit of rain during autumn and winter. The landscape is rather flat in most places, and the soil is quite infertile. It seems like grapes have found their ideal home in the Bordeaux terroir.
Médoc, is an appellation area within the Bordeaux wine region on the Left Bank of the Gironde estuary, that covers the northern section of the viticultural strip along the Médoc peninsula. It is located precisely at the 45th parallel, where its temperate oceanic microclimate benefits vine growth. The land of the Medoc appellation has three kinds of terroirs. Garonne gravel, Pyrenean gravel -ideal for growing Cabernet Sauvignon- and clay to limestone soils –largely beneficial for Merlot.
WINERY
The «Moncigale» winery where our La Valle Barrow wines are produced is a classic French winery. With a long lasting tradition of over 150 years, it has adopted the Bordeaux wine making process methods, thus producing wines of great typicity, characteristic of the renowned region.
Each wine maker’s generation has contributed in its own way to the philosophy of the wines and their superior quality. The latest vinification and bottling technology has been acquired with the vision to produce the ultimate Bordeaux wine.
Mastering the wine making art, aiming higher and higher in quality and continuously investing in new tanks, barrels and equipment, have always been the cornerstones of the winery’s mentality.
The typical Bordeaux red. Deep currant-red color, silky and soft, with strong aromas of red fruits combined with the elegant touches of black pepper. Supple and fine.
Dominant Flavors
Color
Taste Profile
It is made from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec grapes.
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates, but it has became internationally recognized through its prominence in Bordeaux wines. The grapes have thick skins and the vines are hardy and naturally low yielding, budding late to avoid frost and to its consistent presentation of structure and flavors which express the typical character of the variety.
Merlot is more soft and supple. It is a dark blue-colored grape and its name is thought to be a diminutive of merle, the French name for the blackbird, that’s why the variety is also known as “the little blackbird”. Merlot is the most commonly grown grape variety in France. It is considered more of a crowd pleasing or “easy drinking” wine because of its characteristics; the soft, velvet, full bodied and fruity flavor.
Finally, Malbec is a purple grape which offers dark color and robust tannins to the wine. It is thin-skinned, it ripens mid-season and needs more sun and heat than Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot to mature. It offers plenty of acidity, relatively high tannins and alcohol levels.
FOOD PAIRING PROPOSITIONS
Wild rice salad with mushrooms
Duck breat with caramelized apple
Vinegar braised pork belly and eggs dish
Chinese style steamed shrimp
An ambassador of the prestige Medoc region. Very deep purple color, aromas of prunes, small berries, licorice and green pepper match well with the spicy and roasted coffee notes from aging. It is well structured, full, round and mellow, rich in alcohol with a remarkable aftertaste.
Dominant Flavors
Color
Taste Profile
It is made from Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.
In the seventeenth century in southwestern France, an accidental breeding occurred between a red Cabernet Franc grape plant and a white Sauvignon Blanc grape plant and, thus, the most popular grape among wine drinkers was born: Cabernet Sauvignon.
This noble grape is responsible for many of the world’s greatest wines and is, arguably, the grandest of all red wine varieties. It offers to the wine a strong “backbone”, that is to say, richness and power.
The Medoc winemakers, from the start, loved the grape’s healthy level of tannins, which meant the wine could evolve in the bottle for many years. It also responded incredibly well to spending time in the oak, which brought out beautiful new flavors. After studying the single varietal they began blending it with other grapes, such as Merlot, and created the world’s most famous wine blend.
Smooth, rounded and "easy drinking" are common descriptions of Merlot. Thus, the variety is often used to soften wines made from more tannic varieties. Chief among these is Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot's main blending partner in the Médoc and in wine regions around the world. Merlot is generally considered the juicer, "fatter" variety, generous with its palate weight and fruit flavors.
FOOD PAIRING PROPOSITIONS
Lamb shanks with olives
Steak frites
Roast duckling with melot-chocolate sauce and roasted beets
Japanese sashimi with wasabi
