The very mention of the name Domaines Barons de Rothschild would awaken the senses of connoisseurs of wine. Considered one of the oldest names in the wine business, DBR’s wines are coveted for their complexity and unique flavours.

DBR came into existence in 1868 when the Chateau Lafite was bought by the de Rothschild family. Lafite, which means hillock, had already been producing fine wine since 1855 but it was after the de Rothschild family took possession that its fame grew. The de Rothschild family later acquired four vineyards in the region surrounding Lafite and together, they came to be the Domaines Baron de Rothschild (Lafite). Today, DBR has six Bordeaux estates and three other estates in other regions that together produce a whole range of popular wines.

The house of Domaines Baron de Rothschild’s classic logo comprises five arrows crossed and behind an ‘R’ (for Rothschild, the family name) and is topped by the word ‘Lafite’ in smaller letters. The logo appears on every bottle, along with the house’s colours of deep blue and yellow – trademarks that will soon become familiar on the Indian table.

These classic wines have been brought to India by Aspri Spirits and Indian wine lovers can finally buy the famous Lafite wines locally. To refresh my memory and find the perfect match for Indian food from amongst DBR’s wines, I sought the help of Michel Negrier, the export director of DBR, at a recent tasting session. We choose three wines – two classic Bordeaux, one white and one red, and then a blend from one of their overseas estates.

First on the list was the Réserve Bordeaux Blanc - a delicate white wine made from the best terroirs in Bordeaux. Swirling the wine in the glass to air it, its scent revealed a hint of fruit. The taste is acidic at first but it is mellow as well and the beautiful light gold colour is eye catching. The bottle, dunked in ice beforehand, was served chilled to the perfect temperature (10 to 12 degrees C) and it seemed to taste better with every sip. The Réserve Bordeaux Blanc is a mix of three grape varietals Sauvignon, Sémillon and Muscadelle.

Next up, the Reserve Spéciale Bordeaux Rouge – a classic French red wine. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this “balanced Bordeaux”, as Negrier called it, was light bodied and easy to drink. Initial notes of this red wine are intense and with a strong hint of mature red fruit – like strawberry. The wine is light and not rich in tannins, and was not too powerful. Less power and more taste, to quote our host. No sour notes, but suited to a more delicate palate; this is the sort of wine one opts for instinctively because of the ease with which it can be appreciated. Grape varietals in this wine include Cabernet Franc, but mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

In 1988, DBR bought vineyards in Argentina and Chile, a pioneering move that created new classic wines made by blending DBR’s original wines from France with local wines from South America. The resulting blends have a unique taste that comes from combining these two unique styles of wine making. We were given a sample of the Amancaya, a blend of the classic Argentine Malbec with Bordeaux’s classic Cabernet Sauvignon. Named after a flower native to the Andes, this powerful wine has a blend of strong flavours like vanilla, chocolate, liquorice, tobacco and even leather. The wine has an alcohol content of 14.5 per cent, the highest of the three wines, but it still has a lightness to it and finishes nicely. More tannin rich than the other Bordeaux and with a lingering scent of cherries, the Amancaya, Negrier says, is a great option to pair with spicy Indian food – the rich flavours of the wine complementing the fiery spices in ‘desi’ fare.

Good things come in threes, they say, and so it was with these three brilliant wines. And now, thanks to DBR’s foray here, oenophiles in India can now raise a toast with wine from one of the best houses in the world.

elizabeth. mathew@thehindu. co. in

comment COMMENT NOW