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- Published: 20 June 2012 20 June 2012
It is a beautiful evening here in London, so much so that work has ground to a halt and I have been forced by the blinding light of my own decadent will to open a bottle of something chilled. So here it is, a Grand Enclos, du Chateau de Cerons 2006. This is a blend of semillon and sauvignon and has a very distinctive nose.
The red from Graves are famous for good reason. They are delicious and exude tonnes of terroir. This wine is distantly straw like in colour and has a very complex and pleasing aroma. There are slight hints of oak, butterscotch, lemon and even a bit of banana. Weirdly lovely. The acidity has softened with 6 years in the bottle but the flavours in the wine are very well integrated. It is a joy to drink.
To help the transition of mood from work to play I am playing Stravinsky's 'The Firebird'… the music is electric and setting the wine fantastically. So it is all high life, pleasure and movement here at the moment. The door will open shortly and Ch will return and the evening's outcome will depend on her mood.
Grand Enclos, du Chateau de Cerons 2006 from Graves
£15.99 exclusive to M&S.
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