Ginestet, a well-known French wine house founded in 1897 in Bordeaux, launched two more wines, Mascaron de Ginestet Bordeaux Blanc and Mascaron de Ginestet Bordeaux Rouge, at a wine dinner at La Terrazza, the Italian restaurant at Hyatt Regency Pune, on May 31, 2011, writes Brinda Gill. Thibault Delpech, Chief Representative, Ginestet, introduced guests to the wines from the century-old wine house and shared details of the five wines that were served in the course of the evening.
Pictured, Mascaron de Ginestet wines
Ginestet’s three wines already in the Indian market are French Roots Sauvignon Blanc and French Roots Merlot, which are easy-drinking, everyday wines, and the premium wine, Ginestet St. Emilion.
Chef Luca Casini planned a special menu of light and flavourful French specialities to pair with the five wines from Ginestet. The evening began with hors d’ouvere accompanied by a light, crisp, refreshing French Roots Sauvignon Blanc at The Single Malt & Co. bar and lounge.
Guests then stepped into the adjoining La Terrazza for the sit-down dinner. 
The first course of Gratin of Portobella Mushroom stuffed with herb marinated cheese was served with French Roots Merlot. The second course of Ravioli stuffed with slow roast cherry tomato, home made ricotta and parsley for the vegetarians and Ravioli stuffed with slow roast cherry tomato, river sole and clam sauce for the non-vegetarians was served with Mascaron de Ginestet Bordeaux Blanc.
Pictured: Gadi Hassin, GM, Hyatt Regency Pune (second from right) and guests
The third course of Duo of Eggplant for vegetarians and Duo of Duck for non-vegetarians was paired with Mascaron de Ginestet Bordeaux Rouge. The gourmet meal was fittingly wrapped up with a cheese platter with bread and homemade marmalade along with Mille Feuille with fresh pear and Roquefort Chantilly which was paired with Ginestet St. Emilion.
The tasting notes provided were:
French Roots Sauvignon Blanc: With a brilliant straw colour, French Roots Sauvignon offers a powerful nose, with grades of boxwood and citrus fruits. A delicate, fresh, elegant, silky and charming wine. Ideally served fresh as an aperitif or with salads, fish and seafood.
French Roots Merlot: With its deep and intense garnet-red colour, French Roots Merlot gives an elegant and delicate nose with pronounced hints of vanilla. It is a rich wine, balanced and structured by dominating grades of fresh fruits, wild strawberry, blackcurrant. Ideally served with a snack or a light meal.
Mascaron de Ginestet Bordeaux Blanc: 52% Sémillon, 48% Sauvignon Blanc. This wine shows a brilliant and limpid pale gold colour, with silver tints. The nose is very fine, pleasant and complex with hawthorn aromas, full of fruits and delicate notes of wood and vanilla. On the mouth, this wine charms for its richness, its fullness and its final range of aromas.
Mascaron de Ginestet Bordeaux Rouge: 59% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc is a deep ruby red colour. The nose is powerful, opening out into notes of wild strawberries, prunes, liquorice and a hint of vanilla. In the mouth, it is ample and rich, leading in to very silky tannins.
Ginestet St Emilion: With a robe of deep ruby, this wine is characterized by its crimson tints. The nose emits tinges of prune, of violet and of leather. The mouth is charmed by its richness, structure and fullness just as much as in its aromatic finish.
Ginestet wines are being imported through Berkmann Wine Cellars India Pvt. Ltd. Ph: (022) 26191366.
