|
   
150 years of Bordeaux Classified Growths
 In 2005 we had the
Vinexpo over here in Bordeaux with the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the 1855
Classification. An absolute highlight was the celebration dinner at Chateau
d’Yquem, in the presence of the owners of all classified estates.
Margaret and I were fortunate enough to be a member of the select group to be
invited to this unique event. You can see some of my pictures of this sublime
dinner by
clicking here.
Best Bordeaux wines tasted in 2005
We tasted many great wines in 2005.
For us the pleasure of wine is sharing it with people with the same passion.
We were fortunate to be able to meet so many lovely people at our dinner
table and opening great wines with them.
 My best wine
experience was without a doubt at Chateau d’Yquem. I didn’t only
taste my best wines in 2005 but probably my best wine ever. I’ll
present my personal top three here:
- Chateau d’Yquem 1967
- Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1982
- Chateau Margaux 1983 (magnum)
(I know there isn’t space for a fourth in a top three, and of course
I know that Port wine isn’t a Bordeaux, but I must mention at
least one lovely Port experience we had during Vinexpo)
- Quinta Do Noval Nacional 1963 (arguably the
best port I ever tasted.)
Bordeaux Wine weekends
 In 2005 we had many
wine weekends at our chateau here in Bordeaux. Again it was a privilege getting to know, over
dinner and wines, so many lovely people. We can’t thank you enough for
staying with us.
An absolute highlight was the Grand Cru Gala Weekend last November. This
black tie event was very special and many people have asked us to repeat this
weekend in 2006. We will see.
In the first three months of 2006 we propose our
weekends Wine and Chateaux of Bordeaux and of course around February 14 we
have the Valentine Romantic Mini Breaks. On the website
you can read all about these weekends: www.bxwinex.com
Bordeaux Vintage 2005
 And then there is
of course the vintage of 2005.
At first the weather didn’t look too promising. We had a very unusual
cold spring. I remember that in May we still had the heating on but a few
days later we had lunch outside next to the swimming pool. The weather stayed
good and we had the driest summer in 29 year, but without the excessive heat
of the 2003 heath wave.
My friends in the wine business, chateau owners and wine traders alike,
started to change their opinion on the vintage. At first they were reluctant
in their comments and later in the summer they became almost positive in
their judgement.
 In August and September
this turned into some kind of euphoria as the harvest was brought in. I had
the pleasure of tasting some of the 2005 from the vat (not from the barrel,
but at an earlier stage in the wine making), and I must concur.
I have started saving money for the 2005 futures because these wines will be
future gems in every Bordeaux lover’s wine cellar.
France is safe again
 We received many
concerned e-mails from wine friends in the US. Canada and the UK about the riots. These riots took place in certain
neighbourhoods in Paris. Area’s you wouldn’t want to be visiting anyway.
Even in Bordeaux there were some small scale riots, but we noticed
nothing about it. We saw it on the news like you did.
We go to Bordeaux regularly and we have just been to Paris with our two little boys and I can tell you France is as safe again as it ever was.
Bordeaux Wine tours 2006
 On the brink of
2006 I would also like to have a look at the New Year. For 2006 we have
scheduled a very ambitious number of six
wine tours. Six absolute top tours with the Grand Tour of Bordeaux and the
Bordeaux Grand Cru Tour as our flagships. The combination of food, cooking
and wine is what the Bordeaux Gourmet Tour is all about.
 I know that the
wine world can be pretentious and elitist at times. Don’t worry; I have a more down to earth approach to wine and
wine tasting. I love wine and I hate snobbery,
so there you go. I like to lower the threshold and open doors and bottles for
you as you’ll discover Bordeaux with me.
I am sure you fall in love, like we did, with this region and its fabulous
wines.
 Most people that
join our tours are wine lovers and wine drinkers and usually this is their
first trip to the Bordeaux region. Most people want lo learn about wine and wine tasting, and
what better place to start than in Bordeaux, the world’s most famous wine region.
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 means a maximum of ten people. That’s just
you and four other couples! All tours start with a two guest minimum.
Click for more information on our Bordeaux
Wine Tours.
I hope you will
tour those magnificent Bordeaux vineyards with us!
Forward to a Friend
I hope you enjoyed this first newsletter.
I would like to ask you to forward it to a friend, family member or colleague
who loves wine! Please don’t send it to pretentious people.
The Bordeaux Wine Experience is
for Non-Snob-Wine-touring!
Let me know your thoughts
I'm interested in your thoughts. So
please tell me what you think:
Ronald@BXWINEX.com I read each e-mail personally.
Don’t hesitate to ask any
question you might have on our Bordeaux tours, weekends or Bordeaux wine in general.
Hope hearing from you soon!
Cheers,
Ronald
   
|
