Chateau Unang arrives
in KL
Exclusive to www.vinfemme.com
Chateau Unang - AOC Ventoux, Rhone Valley, France
I have followed the progress of this boutique winery in the southern Rhone Valley for many years and am very pleased to finally announce that the wines are now available in KL.
Chateua Unang, run by James and Joanna King, is a 15-hectare vineyard within the Ventoux appellation, centred around a chateau first mentioned in the 9th century.
The vineyards are managed along organic lines without the use of pesticides insecticides or chemical fertilizers. They will complete their three “conversion” years in time to have the 2012 vintage under an organic label for their white wine and 2013 for the rosé and the red wines.
This hillside vineyard is at an altitude of between 220 and 330 metres, terraced, surrounded by forest and with a south-east aspect. It’s cooler here than in many other parts of the Ventoux appellation, and certainly cooler than the Rhône Valley floor to the west.
The wines feature grape varieties typical of the Southern Rhone. James keeps the yields low at approximately 35 hectolitres per hectare – which translates into making more concentrated and expressive wines.
I love these wines and I hope you will too. Happy Holidays!
Joanne
Reviews for Chateau Unang:
Decanter Magazine - Andrew Jefford – What I’ve been drinking this month
Cotes de Ventoux is not an easy appellation to make a living from: it’s large, amorphous, well down the Rhone Valley pecking order. I’ve tasted attractive wines from there over the years (not least the Perrin family’s La Vieille Ferme), but the quality James King is now getting from his Chateau Unang vineyards amazes me. A magnum of La Croix 2006 red was superb: finely woven aromas of freshly cut flowers and garrigue herbs, with a palate in which the poise and energy of altitude was jointed to the grip and width that can only come from low yields and finely judged extraction. Few southern Rhone reds combine refreshment and satisfaction like this.
(October 2011)
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Xmas Mixed Case
I have put together a mixed case of the Chateau Unang wines which I think will be perfect for the Festive season. I have matched the wines with the following recipes, unashamedly taken from “Nigella Christmas”, by the Goddess herself Nigella Lawson.
The Unang White Blend is remarkably refreshing and very different to the usual suspects on the white wine front here in KL. The addition of the food-friendly Roussanne means that whilst it is a delicious aperitif I think it will pair wonderfully with roast white meats or a festive vegetable accompaniment such as Potato, Parsnip and Porcini Gratin
The Unang Rosé has a delightful salmon-pink colour. I have a theory, borne out by experience, that pink wines go incredibly well with pink foods. I think we can safely say we are talking salmon here. The inherent earthiness of salmon matches the grapes used in southern French rose wines so I don’t think you can go wrong with Smoked Salmon Soda Breads.
Just as an aside we tasted the La Source red last week at my beginners Food & Wine Club with Goats Cheese, Mushroom Paté , a Chorizo type sausage as well as the Curried Chickpea & Lentil Dip – a delightful match.
Finally for the most prestigious of their reds, La Croix, naturally it would be superb accompaniment if you decide to serve either Roast Lamb or Roast Beef over the festive period. However my advanced Wine Club have reviewed the 2008 vintage in the past and found it to go remarkably well with a chocolate dessert. For all those (other) chocoholics out there I do have a feeling it would be delicious with Christmas Spiced Chocolate Cake.
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