Recent wines ingested.

Le Sardine, March 8:

A Côte-Rôtie Syrah, vintage 2001
Appellation: Côte Rôtie Controlée
Location: North part of Rhone around Vienne city, on the right bank of the river
Places: Saint-Cyr-sur-Rhône, Ampuis and Tupin-Semons
Soil: Granite, Clay or sand
Size: 200 ha (500 acres)
Production: 1.1 million bottles
Wine Type: Full-body Red
Varietal: Syrah (up to 20% Viognier)
Age: 8 to 15 years
Aromas in Côte Rôtie: Raspberry, Spice, Vanilla
Notes: One of the oldest vineyards in France, first established by the Romans. The slopes are distinguished as either Cote Blonde (which produce wines for early drinking) or Cote Brune (associated with firmer, more durable all-Syrah wines). Harsh and dark when they are young those wines become softer and develop with age an excellent bouquet. Two grape-varieties dominate the production, Viognier and Syrah. The finest Cote Rotie is meant to be a blend of the two. Syrah is trained on the vine in a distinctive way on these slopes.

2000 Château Gruaud Larose
Appellation: 11 Grands Crus Classés, Appellation Saint Julien Controlée, Crus Bourgeois
Location: At the center of Haut-Médoc
Places: Saint Julien Beychevelle
Soil: Gravels
Size: 900 ha (2,200 acres)
Vineyards: 26 vineyards
Production: 6.5 million bottles
Wine Type: Red Bordeaux
Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Age: 10 to 15 years
Aromas: Black currant, Cocoa, Cedar box
Notes: The wines from the Saint-Julien appellation may be recognized by their unparalleled bouquet, particularly harmonious and mild. They have a fine deep colour and combine the finesse of their aromas and a solid constitution. They have body, are very rich in flavour and have a delicious and delicate bouquet.
Production conditions: (Decree dated November 14, 1936) In order to have the right to the Saint-Julien appellation of controlled origin, red wines must: come from the commune of Saint-Julien and from precisely defined parcels in the communes of Cussac, and Saint-Laurent, "excluding the parcels situated on recent alluvium and sand on impermeable subsoils", - satisfy precise production conditions: grape-varieties (Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cabernet-Franc, Carmenère, Merlot Noir, Petit Verdot, Cot or Malbec), minimum of sugar (178 grammes - 6.27 oz. - per litre of must) degree (an acquired 10°5) base yield (45 hectolitres per hectare).

Information courtesy of Cellar Tracker and Wikipedia.