Les Dégustations Ugo

Château Coquillas 2023—the signature cuvée from Château de France, nestled in the heart of this Pessac-Léognan gem. . Pessac-Léognan red, Château Coquillas cuvée, from Château de France . Vintage: 2023 . 🍇: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot . 👀: The moment you pour it, it makes a statement. It’s a dark, deep, almost shadowy red—reminiscent of the leather jackets Michael Jackson wore in *Thriller*. A vibrant ruby ​​rim kisses the edge of the glass. It’s brilliant. You can sense the concentration immediately, yet it possesses a natural elegance that doesn’t need to wait in line to get into the club. . 👃: Stick your nose in, and—BAM—it’s an emotional rollercoaster. It’s as if a freshly picked wild blackberry hitched a ride with a Havana cigar, crossed paths with notes of noble cedar, and picked up a hint of a freshly sharpened pencil. Then, on a second pass, a twist of black pepper and jammy dark fruits transports you straight back to childhood—stealing licorice candies from the b...

A Pinot Noir with a knack for making you lose track of time—and that’s perfectly fine. . Santenay Rouge Premier Cru, "Clos Rousseau" cuvée, from Domaine Louis Lequin et Fils . Vintage: 2023 . 🍇: 100% Pinot Noir . 👀: Visually, it boasts a vibrant, luminous ruby ​​hue. It’s crystal clear, shimmering with a delightful, cheeky brilliance, while the "tears" trace a slow path down the glass—as if there’s absolutely no rush. It’s clearly young, brimming with restless, eager energy. . 👃: Dive in, and—bam!—an instant flashback. It’s as if a jar of black cherry jam hitched a ride on a summer road trip alongside a basket of fresh raspberries and a hint of damp forest floor after the rain. But wait—there’s a subtle, spicy twist: a touch of white pepper and a whisper of fine leather, reminiscent of an old, well-worn biker jacket. It’s luscious and precise, with an inviting, mouth-watering quality that tickles the senses and makes you want to press your lips to the...

This 2018 Château Roquefort is the reliable buddy you can count on when everything else goes sideways. . Red Bordeaux from Château Roquefort . Vintage: 2018 . 🍇: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon . 👀: In the glass, it makes a bold statement from the very first second. It sports an intense, dark ruby-red hue. As you swirl the wine, thick, languid "tears" slide down the si des, a clear sign of real substance. . 👃: Stick your nose in the glass and, boom, it’s a time machine. It smells of perfectly ripe blackberries and crushed blackcurrants, with a twist of black cherry that’s spent some time soaking up sweet spices. Then, on a second pass, bam!, a wave of forest floor, a hint of licorice, and a subtle smoky, toasted quality, as if a cigar box had quietly brushed up against a crackling fireplace. It’s a robust, generous n'ose, the kind that isn’t afraid to get its hands dirty. . 👄: The attack is frank, direct, and no-nonsense. It doesn’t just knock on the door; it w...

A Premier Cru crafted for epicureans who value substance just as much as style. It offers real depth, vibrant tension, and phenomenal drinkability. . Champagne Brut Premier Cru, "Grande Cuvée Spéciale," from the house of Champagne G. Tribaut. . 🍇: 70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir. . 👀: Visually, it’s a deep, brilliant, almost flashy golden yellow the kind of color that brings to mind Michael Jackson’s gold jacket in *Thriller*. The bubbles are incredibly fine, rising in tight, remarkably disciplined columns. It’s a truly festive appearance that promises something substantial. . 👃: Wow talk about an impact! You can immediately sense the five years of aging on the lees. It begins with an indulgent, mouth-watering wave: fresh-from-the-oven brioche, creamy butter, and a hint of toasted hazelnut. Then, the Chardonnay which, at 70% of the blend, is the star here emerges with notes of apple, ripe pear, and a touch of candied lemon zest. It’s comforting, complex, and car...

Domaine Le Fort presents a VDP d’Oc that punches well above its weight class. Forget those wines where the oak is laid on with a trowel, burying the fruit entirely; here, the oak acts like a bespoke suit, tailored to enhance a radiant Chardonnay. . Domaine Le Fort ‘Blanche’ VDP d’Oc (White) . Vintage: 2024 . 🍇: 100% Chardonnay. Aged in oak barrels. . 👀: In the glass, it appears as liquid gold not the heavy, aged gold of an heirloom wedding band, but a youthful, vibrant gold with an almost brazen brilliance. The "tears" (legs) trickle slowly down the sides of the glass luscious, promising a rich texture just waiting to reveal itself. . 👃: From the very first whiff, it’s an explosion. No need to bury your nose deep in the glass for minutes on end; the aromas come to you. Think fresh butter spread over toasted brioche and Bourbon vanilla, immediately balanced by a hint of candied lemon zest and a touch of crisp, fresh pineapple. The nose remains remarkably fresh e...

This 2024 is an absolute blast of immediate pleasure—a Chardonnay that makes your tongue click and your heart sing. . Savigny-lès-Beaune Blanc, cuvée "La Cabotte Aimande," from Domaine Jean Fery . Vintage: 2024 . 🍇: Chardonnay . 👀: In the glass, it’s liquid gold—but with a moonlight glow. Forget the heavy, buttery yellows of your father’s white wines; this is an ultra-bright, straw-yellow hue that signals right away that things are about to get lively. . 👃: On the first pass, it offers white blossoms and fresh almonds. But give it a couple of minutes to breathe, and it’s a full-blown festival—reminiscent of a lemon meringue pie hitchhiking along a sun-drenched highway, right next to a basket of vine-ripened peaches. There’s a mineral quality—like wet stone—interwoven with a whisper-subtle hint of vanilla. . 👄: On the palate, the real show begins. The attack is straight and taut. Then, the wine settles in, stretches out, and reveals an enveloping, almost fleshy...

Château de Carles 2016 is like a warm embrace from Fronsac. Luscious, silky, and deep, yet approachable. . Fronsac red, Château de Carles cuvée from Château Haut de Carles . Vintage: 2016 . 🍇: 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec . 👀: In the glass, it’s a deep garnet—almost black at the core—reminiscent of the leather on a vintage jacket. Swirl the glass, and it lights up with brilliant ruby ​​highlights. Dense and a touch mysterious, but not austere. It’s not the brooding goth sitting at the back of the class; it’s the cool guy in the leather jacket. . 👃: First impression: black cherry—the kind you’ve just crushed in your hand—blackcurrant, and a hint of candied strawberry. It’s ripe, clean, and vibrant. Then it opens up and gets a bit more playful: blond tobacco, sweet spices, a touch of licorice, and an undertone of damp earth and wet chalk—that clay-rich character reminding you that Fronsac isn't sand; it’s real soil that clings to your boots. Warm, a bit rog...

An accessible, rich, and well-crafted Pessac-Léognan that proves you can have structure without needing an oenology dictionary. . Château de France Pessac-Léognan Red . Vintage: 2020 . 🍇: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot . 👀: Deep garnet color—almost black at the core—with lovely ruby ​​highlights when swirled. Visually, it’s dense and serious, yet not austere. . 👃: Initial nose: black fruits, blackcurrant, blackberry, and ripe cherry. As the glass breathes, it gains complexity: a touch of vanilla, cedar, and sweet spices, along with that slight smoky/woody character typical of a carefully aged Bordeaux. There’s a ripe fruit quality that reminds me of blackberry jam spending an evening in an old wood-paneled library. It’s not an overly showy nose that jumps right out at you. . 👄: The attack is clean and direct, with prominent fruit flavors. The Cabernet provides the backbone—structure, freshness, and tannins—while the Merlot rounds it all out with its fleshier, richer charact...

The 2024 Come des Amoureuses cuvée is a Chardonnay that champions freshness, precision, and pure drinking pleasure. . Domaine Fery Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune Blanc, La Come des Amoureuses cuvée . Vintage: 2024 . 🍇: 100% Chardonnay . 👀: It looks luminous in the glass. A pale yellow hue with golden highlights brilliant, almost like a ray of sunshine that decided to take a holiday in Burgundy. Visually, there is no heaviness; it is clean, fresh, and precise. . 👃: First impression: white flowers, fresh apple, and pear, with a zesty lemon note that wakes up the senses. Then, the Chardonnay begins to tell a different story. Notes of fresh hazelnut and almond emerge, along with a delicate touch of butter and a hint of something stony almost chalky. It reminds me of an early morning walk in Burgundy: orchards still damp with dew, cool stones, the scent of fruit in the air... Then, gradually, the wine gains depth. No need for a sommelier’s dictionary here: it smells wonderf...

The 2023 La Dame isn’t a bottle trying to show off for the crowd; it’s simply out to please. . AOP Languedoc Red La Dame cuvée from Domaine Terre des Dames . Vintage: 2023 . 🍇: Grenache 45%, Carignan 35%, Syrah 20% . 👀: In the glass, it’s a deep red. The color is dark and brilliant, with lovely purple highlights. It promises fruit and substance, yet without the feeling that you’ll have to chew the wine. Visually, it feels warm and inviting. . 👃: And then... hello, basket of red and black fruit. Cherry, blackberry, raspberry, plum... followed by spices, a touch of pepper, and something wilder almost garrigue -like. It smells of the scrubland after a hot day: thyme, dried herbs, warm earth. The Carignan brings a slightly rustic, earthy edge that adds character; the Grenache balances it with fruit; and the Syrah shows up in a leather jacket to inject a bit of rock 'n' roll into the mix. . 👄: The attack is supple and generous. The fruit is prominent, yet the wine ne...