|
Return to newsletter
archive index
Read about:
v Dinner at Lafite Rothschild
v It's a Grand Tour of Bordeaux
v Just 15 spots left for 2010
v What Ronald has been drinking this month
v My best Wine Experience
Member of
The American Society
of Travel Agents
|
Ronald and Margaret ready for the dinner at Chateau Lafite Rothschild |
Dear Wine Lover,
The vintage 2009 is looking great here in Bordeaux. The whites have been harvested and look superb. The reds appear healthy with a potential of 14 degrees! We were at a tasting of the Grand Crus Classés des Graves last week. A nice little horizontal of 2006: Haut Brion, Pape Clément, La Mission Haut Brion, Haut Bailly, Smith Haut Lafitte, Latour Martillac, etc; they were all there.
We stayed in Bordeaux after the tasting to save my driver's licence. I had only one glass of wine with my food, so I was OK driving. Great night. Anyway, I spoke to the owner of Latour Martillac, Tristan Kressmann. He had just harvested his whites. Due to hail storms this spring his yields were very low: 30 hl/ha. But the quality is outstanding. Same message from Saint Emilion and Pauillac. Things look great, so let's keep our fingers crossed.
Our vintage 2009
Remember the Supertramp album: Crisis, what Crisis? All our tours were sold out in 2009, so we won't complain too much. Remember we just conduct four of these tours per year and there are only 15 spots left for 2010. See the Bordeaux Wine Tour Schedule for the dates in 2010.
| Quote of the month: |
“Ronald is the most Bordelais of all Dutch in Bordeaux.”
- Jean Bernard Grenié
co-owner of Saint Emilion First Growth Chateau Angélus |
|
Newsletter Gala Issue
And there was Vinexpo. This world's largest fine wine show takes place in Bordeaux every other year. This year more than 46,000 visitors from 135 countries attended this unique trade show. We of course attended the show and participated in a lot of tastings. This turns out to be the Gala Issue of the Newsletter as we were at the most prestigious dinner party (Lafite Rothschild) and the most exclusive one as well (Angélus). More about our experiences in this edition and the next.
Unforgettable wine
I am sure you all have this special bottle that got you started into wine or that special wine moment that left an everlasting impression. This time the source is Mouton Rothschild but the wine is from Burgundy.
Please send me an e-mail at Ronald@BXWINEX.com. Next month it could be your story featured here.
200 to 20.000 subscribers
I told everyone in Bordeaux that our Newsletter would reach the 20.000 subscribers this year. I need a few more to make my promise come true. So subscribe your friends, neighbours, family and other Bordeaux Wine Lovers here, because I have to keep my promise.
TheBordeauxWineBlog # 4 in the world list
 Thanks to your help my BordeauxWineBlog is #4 in the world list of wine blogs. To be in the top three in this list I need another 175 votes. Please help us in two clicks. It's easy and it's free! Please help us in two clicks and vote!
Thanks very much for your continuing support.
I hope you'll enjoy reading this Newsletter and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
"The 2009 whites are excellent and the reds look
great as well", says
Tristan Kressmann (L)
of Chateau Latour Martillac
|
Don’t drink
anything I wouldn't drink!
Have a a great harvest season.
Ronald Rens, M. Sc., Wine Master
Wine writer and President
of The Bordeaux Wine Experience
|
No black dress for Margaret at Lafite |
 Dinner at Lafite Rothschild,
by Margaret Rens M. Sc., Wine Master
Vinexpo is never short of parties but there is one event everybody wants to get invited to. And that is the dinner held by the Conseil des Grand Crus Classes en 1855 to welcome the international press to Vinexpo. This dinner party is traditionally hosted by a First Growth. Since we’ve arrived in Bordeaux we’ve attended the parties in the past held at Chateau Margaux, Chateau d’Yquem and Chateau Mouton Rothschild.
This year the dinner was supposed to be at Chateau Latour. But later Latour owner Francois Pinault reclined, stating that in a time of economic crisis it wasn’t appropriate to throw such a lavish party. Rumors of chateau Latour being for sale were of course fueled by this statement, but have not yet been confirmed.
We were welcomed in the gardens of Lafite by our host Baron Eric de Rothschild and Philippe Castéja, President of the Conseil des Grands Crus Classés and their charming spouses |
Baron Eric de Rothschild of chateau Lafite Rothschild gracefully stepped up to the plate, stating that in difficult times it is extra important to receive your friends ‘chez soi’ (at home)
The crème de la crème of the wine world and wine press gathered on the lawns of chateau Lafite to mingle with chateau owners and winemakers of the Medoc and Sauternes Classified Growths.
Dress code for this evening was black tie with long evening dresses for the ladies. Wine journalism and wine making is still a male thing so we ladies were outnumbered by far. Even more reason to make a little effort to stand out from the black suits and glam up a little.
The cocktail was served in the upper part of the gardens of Lafite overlooking their flower garden and the lake. Against the back drop of the Chateau, waiters served Sauternes and Champagne.
Tasting Rothschild Champagne with Philippe Dhalluin of Mouton Rothschild |
Philippe Dhalluin, Technical Director of Chateau Mouton Rothschild told us the scoop of this champagne. This was the first time the three different houses of Rothschild have put their forces together to make their own champagne.
Dinner was announced by the sounding of a Chinese gong and then we were led through the vat room into the barrel room. All the way down every other barrel was decorated by a candles. It was a very solemn entrance to the round barrel hall, where we were to dine this evening. The only decoration in this circular barrel hall was again by thousands of candles. The candlelight was reflected from the numerous glasses on the tables.
Our table was hosted by M et Mme Seneclauze, owners of Chateau Marquis de Terme, Fourth Growth in Margaux. They told us how they have just started working with a new cellar master at their chateau.
The five course menu consisted of consomé, poached eggs, lamb, cheeses and a dessert of roasted peach. |
It will be a change for them because Mr Jean-Pierre Hugon had been with them for 36 years and is now enjoying a well earned “retraite”. Job hopping isn’t in his vocabulary and I can understand this perfectly well. Ludovic David will follow in his footsteps to bring this excellent Classified Growth in Margaux to an even higher level. We tasted the 2001 and 1989 vintage of Marquis de Terme. Both were classic Margaux wines, powerful and yet elegant with ripe fruit and flower notes.
They made a very interesting comparison to the other two wines served at our table: Fifth Growth Chateau Grand Puy Ducasse 2001 and 1996 from Pauillac. Also very powerful wines but more masculine with tobacco, cedar wood and spices.
Eric de Rothschild: 'there is a tradition in Bordeaux to receive your friends at home chez soi" |
The “piece de resistance” was of course the 1978 Lafite Rothschild served from Jeroboams. Very smooth yet complex with still strong tannins and the typical cedar and tobacco notes.
You’ll read more about the 1978 Lafite in another section of this newsletter.
Dessert was of course accompanied by a Sauternes. At our table it was First Growth Chateau Rayne Vigneau 1995, served from magnum. Full of concentrated and complex tropical fruit and honey aromas. Rayne Vigneau is one of the chateaux we visit on our Harvest Tour and it is always great to experience the results of the work that we have seen performed in the vineyards to make such a beautiful wine.
The elegant setting and the welcoming atmosphere really made us feel ‘chez soi’ with the very hospitable Baron Eric de Rothschild and his family.
It's a Grand Tour of Bordeaux
We tasted an impressive 44 Classified Growths on last month's Grand Tour of Bordeaux. Margaret and I had the privilege of touring with wonderful guests from the United States, Canada, Singapore, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. We tasted 67 different wines! Please click here to see all wines we tasted. We enjoyed visits and tastings at all five First Growths and Yquem. Read what our guests of these tours have to say:
Having enjoyed Bordeaux Wines for many years now, we had our eyes opened! To  see the chateaux, to understand wine making, and the terroir and to experience the passion with which the wines are produced, was an experience we will never forget.
As well, your commitment to giving us a fantastic tour, your own passion for the wines and food of Bordeaux, shone through.
Thank you for welcoming us into your beautiful Chateau, and be sure you have built some firm friends in Australia!
Sincerely Robert and Michelle McK
Victoria, Australia
"This tour has exceeded our expectations across our senses of taste, smell and sight.  Each Chateau brought a unique perspective in the wine making process. Although it is hard to have a favorite moment of the tour, the Lafite Rothschild 1995 in the Chateau’s cellar will be a memory of a lifetime. The selection of restaurants was on par to the First Growths!
Thank you for sharing your passion, knowledge and love of wine with us!"
Aaron and Tricia S
Redington Shores Florida, USA
|
Just 15 spots left for 2010
Of course tasting is better than reading when it comes to enjoying great wines. In 2010 there are only 15 couples that can still tour Bordeaux with us. So check out the tour schedule. Contact us today for a detailed itinerary and more information!
Our bordeaux Wine tour schedule for 2010 :
§ The Grand Tour of Bordeaux 2010
-May 24 - May 29 and
-July 5 - July 10 and
-September 6 - September 11.
§ The Bordeaux Harvest Tour 2010
-September 20– September 25.
 Your Tour host and Bordeaux Wine Expert and Wine Writer:
Ronald Rens, M. Sc., Wine Master
Guests that join us on our tours are both wine and food lovers and usually this is their first trip to the Bordeaux region. We have tastings at First Growths like Mouton, Yquem, Margaux and Haut Brion; Second Growths like Pichon Baron, Léoville Barton and Léoville Las Cazes and many many more.
When you tour with The Bordeaux Wine Experience, you taste more Classified Growths than on any other Bordeaux wine tour!
But there is more than "just" the wine!
 Meet Chateau owners and Wine makers! We are invited into chateaux, see art collections and visit unique and private gardens.
We indulge in meals at restaurants varying from typical local cuisine to Michelin-rated tables. And of course live the very special experience of eating in private dining rooms of some wonderful Bordeaux Chateaux.
So you see, it's not just a wine tour but a real Bordeaux Wine Experience!
Remember we want to keep things personal. That's why we only organize tours for small groups and tailor made trips. A small group from our perspective is a maximum of ten people. That’s just you and four other couples! These tours are 6 days, 5 nights. All our tours start as of one couple.
I invite you to contact us today for a detailed itinerary and more information!
 What Ronald has been drinking this month...
The best improve with age...
|
The Best Bordeaux:
Not an easy choice, as we tasted so many great wines this Vinexpo. My pick this time must be the Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1978 poured from jeroboams and served at the dinner at Lafite.
You can read all about the dinner in Margaret's article above.
I will concentrate on this silky wine here.
The color was clear and light brick as was to be expected after 30 year of ageing.
On the nose the wine expressed its complexity with notes of cedar wood, herbs and and some smokiness. I was surprised to be able to still find so much fruitiness in the wine. Both black and red fruits and some hints of tobacco and again the cedar.
The 1978 had a high acidity and still very strong tannins.
It is not easy to serve these big bottles. It too two strong guys to pour a glass. Emptying a a Jeroboam is't easy either, even with a large group. As Margaret was the designated driver that night, my task was to help emptying the big bottle. Don't worry I stood my grounds and you can be proud of me. It was a task I took upon me with great pleasure.
A truly memorable night and a unique experience! |
The best "non Bordeaux" wine:
Guests on our week tours are invited to bring a bottle of wine from "their part of the world" to share with us on the "farewell dinner". On a recent tour Tony and Janene brought a very special wine from New Zealand: The Stoneyridge 2005 Larose, a Bordeaux style wine from Waiheke Island, near Auckland. Stephen White, owner and chief winemaker provided us with a barrel sample of his excellent 2008.
The 6 ha Stonyridge vineyard is planted with Bordeaux varietels: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. The winery combines traditional wine making with meticulous organic viticulture.
The wine showed a deep dark red color. On the nose there was an avalanche of fruit with strong notes of blackberry and cassis. This wine from "down-under" expressed notes like cigar box, tobacco and some mint. The ripe tannins were strong without being overpowering. A beautiful balance!
To be quite honest, I was amazed by the complexity of this very interesting wine. Yes, it was a Bordeaux style wine but unlike some "Bordeaux copycats" it had its own style and expression of terroir.
Look out for the 2008: it is going to be a blockbuster!
Click on the link for the site: Stonyridge. They ship anywhere in the world to your door.
|
My Best Wine Experience
by Erwan Le Brozec of Mouton Rothschild
Erwan Le Brozec (L) of Mouton Rothschild, this time expressing his opinion on a
great Burgundy |
Congratulation for your newsletter and I’m very pleased to answer to your question about my best wine experience.
It was 3 years ago, in Burgundy during a meeting with Aubert de Villaine. His wine master organized a special tasting with 5 vintages of Grand Echezeaux after the tasting on barrels of all the different DRC wines (vintage 2005).
The vertical was build with 2004, 2000, 1989, 1966 and to finish the 1953. The last one was my best  memory because in the audience (Aubert de Villaine and Jacques Seysses from Domaine Dujac) everybody situated the wine around the 80th. It was so balanced, with a lot of fruit, very corpulent, deep color unusual for a Pinot Noir.
A big surprise for me and a lot of respect for the Grand Bourgogne.
Subscribe your Friends
 Dear %%First name%%, I hope you enjoyed this
newsletter. I would like to ask you to subscribe your friends, family
members and colleagues that love wine, because
it's fun, easy and free!
Please help us
We still need your votes so please help us: Click here to vote The Bordeaux Wine Experience your favorite blog. Please vote once a day.
Thanks very much for your help!
Have a great Fall and we look forward to seeing you all in Bordeaux in the near future!
Cheers from Bordeaux,
Ronald and Margaret Rens
   
|
Visit our
website:
Bordeaux Wine
Tours
www.BXWINEX.com
|
|
