Region: France, AOC Bordeaux

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot

Background: Sirius is a modern Bordeaux both in style and presentation, a wine of the finest quality with fullness and depth of a typical Bordeaux.

Winemaking process: The majority of the grapes are vinified in the traditional Bordeaux way: the bunches are totally de-stemmed and the grapes fermented, in vat, at between 27 and 32oC to extract colour and tannins. There follows a period of vatting (15-21 days) to give the wines their characteristic Bordeaux structure and the potential to age well. To maximize the fruit, however, the remaining proportion of grapes undergoes carbonic maceration. Once the different vats are blended, Sirius is aged in French oak barriques for 12 months.

Tasting notes: The bouquet is expressive and intense, redolent of ripe blackcurrant and redcurrant and mild spice, with an elegant touch of vanilla and toast. The fat, fruity tannins on attack turn to succulence against a balanced mid-palate of chewy extract, adding remarkable silkiness and crispness to the wine. Superb, lingering finish. A very fine Bordeaux, without any shadow of a doubt.