2020 Retouche
RETOUCHE IN 7 WORDS
Plum, Cherries, Sage, Restrained, Mineral, Dusty, Voluminous
WINEMAKING NOTES
Retouche pays homage to the historical practice of “Hermitaging” wines in Bordeaux during the 1800s. Winemakers in Bordeaux added Syrah (often from the famous vineyards in Hermitage) to their wines to add warmth, roundness, and comfort-characters sometimes missing from the structured, powerful Bordeaux Blends in general.
It would be incorrect to simply call Retouche a Cab/Merlot/Syrah (CMS as they call it in parts of the New World). Not any Syrah would do. It had to be the right parcel added to our Bordeaux blend so it would sit invisibly behind the Cabernet/Merlot by filling in the gaps. Think of Syrah acting as invisible marionette strings to bring Cabernet to life. After all, it wasn’t until the late 1900s that the world learned about this fraudulent practice in Bordeaux.
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The complexity & balance of this wine can be complimented with the south-western French style of cooking with a hint of spicy flavours of the Pyrenees.
Meat-Based
Braised rabbit & prune, chicken ballotine and flavours of Périgord black truffles are all lovely matches.Plant-Based
Mushroom & spinach quiche or stuffed peppers with mildly spiced lentils and potatoes are delicious too. -
2020 Retouche Spec Sheet (PDF)
Spec sheets for other vintages
