Newsletter 5,       November, Vintage 2007

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Read about:

v The Bordeaux Harvest Tour is
here to stay

v 2008 Bordeaux Wine Tour Schedule

v Our Wine Experience during Vinexpo 2007
(part 2)

v Record number of new subscribers. Help us to reach
the 1000!

v Our Blog on place 18 in the top 100; help us in the top 10!

v Bordeaux
Wine Trivia Quiz

As seen in the brochure: Best of Wine Tourism,
Great Wine Capitals 2007

Dear wine lover,
It has been cold the last few days here in Bordeaux. In the morning everything is white and the temperature is about 3 Celsius (37 Fahrenheit). Later it is sunny and about 16 C (60 F). This is unusually cold for this time of the year. These temperatures are actually those we normally have towards the end of November. Harvest time is almost over here in Bordeaux. We are just waiting for the Sauternes to finish picking. We have just concluded our very successful Bordeaux Harvest Tour. As promised, I will share our experiences at Vinexpo with you. This time it's the "Dîner Millésimes de Collection"at Beau-Séjour Bécot that is in the center of attention.

Ronald enjoying the impressive Cheval Blanc 1975 (served from double magnum!)
with Pierre Lurton director of both Chateau Cheval Blanc and Chateau d'Yquem

Reading back this and the previous issue of this Newsletter, you would get the impression that we do nothing else than dress up in a tuxedo and evening dress and hop from one gala dinner to another party. And you know what: you are absolutely right (well during Vinexpo it seemed that way anyhow...).
I know, it is a though job, but somebody has to do it. You as reader of this Newsletter at least get to see the pictures and hear our stories.

We were thrilled to be accompanied by a crew of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) on our recent Harvest tour. Their program, that will air in 2008, focuses for a part on Bordeaux. This Bordeaux Harvest Tour was a great success. In this Newsletter you can read all about it.

For this month's wine trivia question I ask you to recognize a bottle from my own personal wine cellar. And I will give you the right answer for last month's question.

I hope you'll enjoy reading this Newsletter and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Don’t drink anything I wouldn't drink!

Have a wonderful fall!

Ronald Rens, M. Sc., Wine Master
President

 

Ronald and Margaret in front of their
Chateau Coulon Laurensac

The Bordeaux Harvest Tour is here to stay
On a beautiful sunny Monday late September we started our first Bordeaux Harvest tour. This tour is quite special because the harvest adds an extra dimension to the Experience.
You feel the anticipation in the air as every body at the chateaux gets excited about the upcoming vintage. This year was extra exciting because -as the leading Bordeaux Wine tour company- The Bordeaux Wine Experience was selected by the Canadian Broadcasting Company to feature in their documentary about wine tourism around the world.
This meant that on a part of the tour, we were followed by a camera crew from the CBC.
We had our first taste of the 2007 Harvest in the Margaux appellation at Chateau Prieuré Lichine. After a very interesting tour of the winery and a short tasting, we sat down for lunch in the private dining room of the chateau. Our chef grilled the steaks to perfection over the sarments de vigne (clippings of the vines). We tasted three different vintages of this Classified Growth from Margaux and they were all served from Magnums!
The afternoon was spent at Fifth Growth Pontet Canet and First Growth Mouton Rothschild. The private museum of Baronesse Philippine de Rothschild is always one of the highlights on our tours.
After a fun filled day with several very good wines tasted we enjoyed a lively dinner at restaurant La Tupina where the owner Jean Pierre Xiradakis came to greet us at our table.

Chateau Haut Brion, our first stop the next morning, is always among the first chateaux to harvest. Because the vineyards are so close to the city the grapes always ripe a little earlier than at other chateaux in for example Medoc.
Haut Brion is one of the four chateaux in Bordeaux that has its own cooper. Here the barrel maker showed us how he makes the perfect barrel, fit for a First Growth.

That evening we had organized a romantic dinner “tête à tête” for our guests. Surrounded by vineyards and overlooking the city lights of Bordeaux we indulged in a truly gourmet experience. Michel Portos, chef of Michelin starred Relais et Chateaux restaurant Le Saint James had prepared a very special dinner for us.
But looking back I think that the experience that had the most impact of the week was our day spent in Saint Emilion. First we participated in the harvest ourselves. In the vineyards we filled the picking baskets with perfectly ripe Merlot.

Afterwards we assisted on the selecting tables to take out the small imperfections and little leaves that can influence the final taste of the wine.
This work needed to be rewarded. As all chateaux in Bordeaux know, a very important reward for the harvesters is lunch. We were very privileged to be invited at the picker’s lunch at First Classified Growth Chateau Troplong Mondot in Saint Emilion.
We joined the owners, the charming Christine Valette and her husband Xavier Pariente and of course Jean-Pierre Taleyson the wine maker with his crew. Together we enjoyed a moment of kind hospitality and friendship.
Our hosts at this chateau treated us with an exceptional tasting of the 1982 Troplong Mondot, a monumental wine. Tasting wines like that makes us aware of what will happen with the wines of the vintage 2005 in twenty five years…

Later that evening at the Farewell dinner at our home, Chateau Coulon Laurensac, over a glass of Mouton Rothschild everybody agreed that the Harvest 2007 will be a great vintage for wine lovers.
For us the harvest of 2007 brings back fond memories of the great people we were privileged to tour with this year and we are already looking at the future: We already have quite a few bookings for the 2008 wine tour season. We look forward to meeting you here in France.

Bordeaux Wine Tour Schedule 2008
Remember the old saying:
When learning about wine, Bordeaux is the benchmark. It is where the novice starts and the expert finishes...
Just to remind you, we'll give you our 2008 tour schedule. Understandably many of you are already planning for next summer.
We proudly present the following Tours and dates for 2008:

The Grand Tour of Bordeaux 2008
(May 26 - May 31 and
September 1 - September 6)

The Bordeaux Grand Cru Tour 2008
(June 9 - June 14 and June 23 - June 28 and July 7 - July 12)

The Bordeaux Harvest Tour 2008
(September 22– September 27)

Remember there are no hidden costs to our tour rates. No booking fees or extra charges for wines. The moment you arrive at our chateau everything is included (except one dinner on the free evening). The tour price includes everything: all taxes, tips and gratuities!
Everything included means: sumptuous meals with premium wines, the chateau visits and tastings, comfortable transportation by a deluxe motor coach. These Tours are 6 days, 5 nights. (Click here for the Itineraries). More information you will find on our Bordeaux Wine Tours website.

People that join our tours are wine lovers and wine drinkers and usually this is their first trip to the Bordeaux region. They want to learn about wine and wine tasting.
I am convinced you will grow to love our region as we do if you join us on one of our tours. We want to keep things personal and tour with small goups. A small group from our perspective means a maximum of ten people.
That’s just you and four other couples! Click here for more information on our Bordeaux Wine Tours.

If you are serious about visiting the famous Bordeaux vineyards next year, it is time to act now! Our tours sell out quickly. In 2007 all our tours were sold out!.
Make sure you will visit and taste those First Growths in 2008 by booking your tour now! Book now because you don’t want to be disappointed at the last minute.

Our Wine Experience during Vinexpo 2007, Part 2
We had several unique wine experiences during Vinexpo. Last time I told you about the dinner at Mouton Rothschild.This time I will tell you about the "Dîner Millésimes de Collection"at Chateau Beau-Séjour Bécot. Next time the attention will be for the Fête de la Fleur at Chateau Smith Haut Lafite.

In June we were invited to the "Dîner Millésimes de Collection"at Chateau Beau-Séjour Bécot. This is a dinner party organized by the Groupement de Premiers Grands Crus Classés à Saint Emilion. The original idea behind this dinner was for the owners to share very special bottles with each other, thus the name: Millésimes de Collection, the collector's vintages. The last few years this dinner has grown into a very special event. The dinner is hosted by one of the First Growths. For Vinexpo 2007 Chateau Beau-Séjour Bécot was given the honor to host this prestigious dinner.
It is rather a small scale event with about 180 people invited. Of course the owners of the First Growths with their partners, the international wine press. And fortunately, Ronald and Margaret Rens, presidents of The Bordeaux Wine Experience, as your eyes, ears and palates in Bordeaux .

In a very contemporary setting we were set to taste no less than fourteen different wines on seven different dishes. The wines were served in pairs; two glasses at a time and were accompanied by different dishes prepared by Michelin rated chef Michel Guérard and his team.

The wines we tasted were:

My favorite wines of the night were the Cheval Blanc 1975, served from double magnum,and the Chateau Canon 1971 (Jéroboam).
But the real winner of the evening was the Chateau Figéac 1950, a monumental wine that I will never forget. I wasn't the only one that was touched. At a certain moment all 180 guests spontaneously rose to their feet to applaude the owner of Chateau Figéac: Thierry Manoncourt. As I know him very well, I went over to him to thank him for this unique wine he was sharing with us. The ever modest 89 year old owner of this First Growth told me that as he was making this wine back in 1950, he was planning to keep it for the new millennium. He said to me: "there were still some bottles left, so I thought it would be a nice idea to open them here at this special dinner". Imagine talking to somebody who can say to you "When I was making this wine back in 1950"!!!
It was truly a very memorable wine experience.

Thierry Manoncourt accepting the standing
ovation for his very memorable Figeac 1950

Record number of new subscribers to this Newsletter
This Newsletter goes out to thousands of Bordeaux lovers all over the world. We are actively trying to enlarge the number of subscribers to this free service. I wanted a 1000 new subscribers in 2007. At this point in time we are just over the 850 new subscribers for 2007. I would like to ask to help us to reach the 1000.
We do need another 150 to reach my goal, and I am used to reaching my goals! Help me to reach the 1000. Please subscribe your wine loving friends, family members and colleagues to this Newsletter. You can subscribe with the button here or from any page on our website.
Thank you very much for your support!

Ronald looking smug, attending yet another black tie event during Vinexpo.
Next time some pictures in more casual clothing...

Our BordeauxWineBlog on place 18 in the top 100; help us in the top 10
Early in 2007 I started TheBordeauxWineBlog, a weblog on Bordeaux and its wines. Here I keep you updated with some experiences or articles I think that are of interest for you. I have been asking you before to vote for TheBordeauxWineBlog.com. Wine blogs are being rated on a site called LocalWineEvents. Our blog is currently at place 18 in the top 100 of wine blogs! If you all vote for me (maybe twice) our blog wouldn't just be in the top ten but could be on the first place!
Please vote for TheBordeauxWineBlog and click here or on the banner.
You are entitled to vote once every 24 hours so I would like to ask you to cast your vote as may times as possible. Again, thanks for your help!

Wine trivia quiz
This month I ask you to recognize a bottle from my own personal wine cellar. I am only showing a detail of the label. I just want to know the name of of the chateau and the appellation.

Let me know before November 10 what you think at: Ronald@BXWINEX.com
Among Newsletter readers to come up with the right answer we will draw five that will receive the famous Bordeaux Wine Experience wine accessory gift.
The correct answer will be on our website as of November 11 on our Newsletter archive.

Last month's question
Last month's question was: Which Bordeaux property started bottling at the chateau and in what year?
The correct answer is: Chateau Mouton Rothschild. Baron Philippe de Rothschild began bottling at the Chateau in 1924. This was a first in Bordeaux and in celebration of this historic moment, he had Jean Carlu design the very first "Art" label for Mouton. It remains today as one of the greatest examples of the Cubist influence in commercial art. From that time on, the label took on a new importance and a new function: it became the trademark, the proof of origin, the guarantee of quality and the signature of the vineyard. Click here to read more.

Forward to a Friend
I hope you enjoyed this newsletter. I would like to ask you to forward it to a friend, family member or colleague who loves wine. Please help us to reach our target of a 1000 new subscribers this year!
And remember to vote for TheBordeauxWineBlog . Thanks very much for your help!

We hope to see you soon with us here in France!

Cheers from Bordeaux,

Ronald and Margaret Rens

Visit our website:

Bordeaux Wine Tours

www.BXWINEX.com

2008 Wine Tour Schedule
(Just five couples per tour!)

We proudly present the following Tours and dates for 2008:
(Now open for booking)

The Grand Tour of
Bordeaux 1
May 26 - May 31, 2008

The Grand Tour of
Bordeaux 2 
Sept 1 - Sept 6, 2008

The Bordeaux Grand Cru Tour 1
June 9 - June 14, 2008

The Bordeaux Grand Cru Tour 2
June 23 - June 28, 2008

The Bordeaux Grand Cru Tour 3
July 7 - July 12, 2008

The Bordeaux Harvest Tour
Sept 22– Sept 27, 2008

These Bordeaux Wine Tours are 6 days, 5 nights.
 

Avoid disappointment and reserve your place today!
(Click here!)

Still available in 2007:
Two day, one night private wine tour packages
(to Médoc or Saint Emilion)
(Click here!)

and

Three day, two nights private wine tour packages
(to Médoc or Saint Emilion)
(Click here!)

The Bordeaux Wine Experience Gift Vouchers
An original gift idea is a Bordeaux Wine Experience Gift Voucher.

These gift vouchers can be used for:

• Wine Day Tours,
• Paris Wine Tours,
• Full week wine tours.

You tell us what you would like to offer and we will prepare a beautiful invitation card that will serve as gift voucher for the tour you would like to offer.

These invitation cards are much appreciated and are considered an original and elegant gift.

Click here for more information.

Bordeaux:
Self catering accommodation at Chateau Coulon Laurensac
(Accommodation only available outside wine tour periods)

Chateau Chateau Coulon Laurensac is situated less than 10 minutes from the Bordeaux city center and offers two deluxe self catering gîtes for two persons and one self catering gîte for four persons.

Click here for more information.

The Bordeaux Wine Experience
Chateau Coulon Laurensac
1, chemin de Meydieu
33360 Latresne (BORDEAUX), France

Tel: +33 (0)556 20 64 12
Fax: +33(0)556 21 79 44

Email : info@BXWINEX.com
Web : www.BXWINEX.com
www.TheBordeauxWineBlog.com

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Copyright © 2007 by The Bordeaux Wine Experience. All rights reserved. The content, design and graphical elements of this newsletter are copyrighted. The Bordeaux Wine Experience is a Dutch company specializing in wine and culinary tours in the Bordeaux region for an English speaking international clientele.

Please note: For this issue of The Bordeaux Wine Experience Newsletter, you're welcome to use the content on the Internet or in hard copy provided you e-mail Ronald (Ronald@BXWINEX.com) to let him know and use this credit line at the top under the title (please make the link clickable if it's online):

Reprinted from The Bordeaux Wine Experience Free Bordeaux E-Newsletter with permission of The Bordeaux Wine Experience, the leading Bordeaux Wine Tour Company: www.BXWINEX.com