Always friendly and thoughtful, the director of Khéma La Poste, Sok Kanthei, who is also a certified sommelier, agrees to talk to us about one of her favorite wines: Château Brun Despagne – Prestige (2015).
Tell us a little about this wine, how do you know it?
Château Brun Despagne is a wine produced in Bordeaux, a region that is well known in France, and not only in France as most Cambodians are also familiar with this famous wine region. This wine has a medium body and is made from a blend of grape varieties, with 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet. According to the winemaker, the wine is made from a rigorous selection of the best fruit and follows a very meticulous harvesting process, with grapes hand-picked from old, low-yielding vines. The wine is then aged in oak barrels for 12 months, giving it a characteristic bouquet of silky plums and blackberries, culminating in a surprisingly dense and well-structured finish.
With what food do you enjoy it?
This wine has a very pronounced aroma with notes of black fruits and blackberries. For me it goes well with a good rack of lamb cooked to medium-rare. You can also serve it with a hearty dish like cassoulet or beef steak.
With cold cuts?
Yes, but it should be a full-flavored charcuterie such as Bayonne ham, chorizo, or salami.
Can it be combined with Khmer food?
With the same strong flavour in mind, it can be served with Amok fish. It can also be served in a Khmer salad with marinated beef. In general, it goes very well with all meat dishes, so what’s true for cooking in general is also true for our typical Khmer meat courses.
Is it one of your favorite wines and why?
Simply because I prefer the taste of red wine to that of white or rosé. Personally, white and rosé wines are more ‘welcome’ or aperitif wines, whereas red wine, in my opinion, has much more consistency and brings a real plus to the tasting of a dish. Finally, I like fruity notes and find that they come through much more in a good red wine. But that’s just my personal opinion (smile).
About the vineyard
Château Brun Despagne has been owned by the Querre family since 1986. The 10 hectare vineyard is located a few kilometres as the crow flies from the vineyards of Saint-Emilion, on the left bank of the Dordogne, at the gateway to the Entre-deux-Mers region. This very old estate belonged to Maurice Despagne, founder of the Cave coopérative de Génissac and grandfather of the current owners, at the beginning of the 20th century.
The 10 hectare vineyard is located in Génissac, south of Saint-Emilion, in the heart of the Bordeaux Supérieur appellation. The soil is predominantly sand and gravel and benefits from natural drainage and exceptional sunshine. Since 1986, the vintages have been of consistent quality, recognised by the world’s leading wine critics and rewarded on numerous occasions.
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